[Redispensing of expensive oral anticancer medicines: a practical application]
Lisanne N van Merendonk1,2, Kübra Akgöl1, Bastiaan Nuijen1
1Nederlands Kanker Instituut - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, afd. Farmacie en Farmacologie, Amsterdam.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde
|October 30, 2024
Summary
Reducing oral anticancer medicine (OAM) waste is crucial. A new pharmacy-led method ensures OAM quality for redispensing, saving significant costs and pharmaceutical waste.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Health Economics
Context:
- Rising costs of oral anticancer medicines (OAM).
- Significant financial and environmental burden from unused OAM.
- Existing waste reduction initiatives face legal and practical challenges, including the EU Falsified Medicines Directive.
Purpose:
- To propose and evaluate a practical, quality-assured method for redispensing unused oral anticancer medicines.
- To address the financial and environmental impact of OAM waste.
- To advocate for policy changes enabling OAM redispensing.
Summary:
- A standardized pharmacy-based assessment protocol was developed for returned OAM, evaluating suitability, physical condition, and authentication.
- Implementation at an institute demonstrated that 79% of returned OAM met criteria for redispensing.
- This process achieved substantial cost savings and reduced highly potent pharmaceutical waste within one year.
Impact:
- Demonstrated significant cost savings of €483,301 and reduction of 1.1 kg in pharmaceutical waste over one year.
- Highlights the potential for broad adoption to minimize financial and environmental burdens associated with OAM.
- Advocates for the removal of legal barriers to facilitate redispensing and improve medication resource utilization.
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