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Exploring differences in inpatient drug purchasing cost between two pediatric hospitals
1Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital at Karolinska, Stockholm, Sweden ; Department of Pharmacy, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, Palo Alto, California.
Summary
Drug purchasing costs at two children's hospitals were similar, but direct comparisons overlook factors like waste and drug pricing models. These insights can inform pediatric pharmacy services and cost estimations for new therapies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pharmacy
- Healthcare Economics
- Comparative Drug Costs
Background:
- Hospital drug purchasing costs vary significantly.
- Understanding these costs is crucial for resource allocation and patient care.
- Children's hospitals face unique challenges in drug procurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare drug purchasing costs between two pediatric hospitals.
- To identify factors influencing drug costs, such as hospital setting and drug selection.
- To discuss the limitations of direct cost comparisons.
Main Methods:
- Drug purchasing costs were retrieved and analyzed for a 6-month period.
- Data were linked to Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) codes.
- Costs were compared using a Microsoft Access database.
Main Results:
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital (ALCH) and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford (LPCH) had similar 6-month drug purchasing costs.
- Cost per patient day was US $149 at ALCH and US $136 at LPCH.
- Hospital setting and drug product choice influenced costs.
Conclusions:
- Direct drug cost comparisons between hospitals are problematic.
- Factors like waste, adverse events, dosing, prevalence, and pricing models must be considered.
- Findings suggest potential cost redistribution to support pediatric pharmacy services in Sweden.
- Cost extrapolation for new therapies is feasible based on comparative data.
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