Comparing Telepharmacy to Conventional Pharmacy Care: An Economic Evaluation

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Digital Health
• Pharmaceutical Services

Background:

• Telehealth is a growing healthcare delivery method due to technological advancements and patient demand.
• Traditional pharmacy models face challenges in medication access, patient privacy, and cost-efficiency.
• Telepharmacy offers a potential solution to improve accessibility and affordability in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of telepharmacy versus traditional in-person pharmacy care.
• To evaluate the financial impact of telepharmacy in three therapeutic areas: obesity, erectile dysfunction, and dermatological care.
• To compare the patient cash-pay perspective for specific medications: tirzepatide (Zepbound), sildenafil (Viagra), and tretinoin.

Main Methods:

• A cost-benefit analysis was performed comparing telepharmacy and traditional in-person pharmacy services.
• The analysis focused on the patient cash-pay perspective for a 30-day supply of medications.
• Costs included consultation fees and drug prices based on literature and clinical guidelines.

Main Results:

• Telepharmacy provided significant cost savings for higher-cost branded products: 53.6% for Zepbound (tirzepatide) and 27% for Viagra (sildenafil).
• Telepharmacy was more expensive for low-cost generics, with tretinoin cream costing $30 more due to consultation fees.
• Savings were observed when medication discounts exceeded tele-platform fees for expensive drugs.

Conclusions:

• Telepharmacy offers substantial cost benefits for managing conditions requiring high-cost medications.
• For inexpensive generic drugs, traditional pharmacy models remain more cost-effective.
• Patient preference for accessibility, privacy, and convenience may influence the choice between telepharmacy and traditional models.