The EAHP Board, elected for three-year terms, oversees the association’s activities. Comprising directors responsible for core functions, it meets regularly to implement strategic goals. Supported by EAHP staff, the Board controls finances, coordinates congress organization, and ensures compliance with statutes and codes of conduct.
Clinical and economic optimisation for the management of patient at risk of respiratory syncytial virus infection
European Statement
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Author(s)
Erica Cusumano, Giorgia Nairi, Cristina Baiamonte, Chiara Schimmenti, Lo Verso Clelia, Carolina Scaccianoce, Marcello Vitaliti, Sceila Affronti, Marco Benanti, Paolo Amari, Patrizia Marrone
Why was it done?
Until 2020, pavilizumab, refunded by National Health System for Respiratory Sincytial Virus (RSV) infection prophylaxis of paediatric patient at risk, was dispensed in 50 mg (FL 50) and/or 100 mg (FL 100) unit packs, regardless of the prescribed dose, with subsequent preparation on the ward and waste of any residual drug. Therefore, the project’s purpose, from November 2021, was to overcome the past distributive criticalities of pavilizumab.
What was done?
In our Hospital, Early Start 2.0 project (E.S-2.0) was implemented in collaboration with the neonatal intensive care unit. The E.S-2.0 purpose was to increase quality and safety of Pavilizumab galenic preparation to guarantee the patient’s health and generate an economic saving with an optimisation of hospital resources.
How was it done?
The E.S.-2.0 involved weekly drug days for the delivery to department staff of personalised galenic preparations of pavilizumab, prepared by hospital pharmacy service in a contamination-controlled environment. Through the hospital management system, prescriptions for the period November 2021 to April 2022 were extrapolated to verify the validity of the project. There were 85 patients. A palivizumab consumption database was created to evaluate the mg saved after E.S.-2.0 and the related economic savings.
What has been achieved?
Project implementation allowed us to obtain an economic saving of 9.33% related to 2339.01 mg that would have been dispensed and wasted without E.S-2.0. The results obtained considering the costs of pavilizumab (FL-50: 10.79 €/mg and FL-100: 8.96 €/mg) and our saving indicators: mg saved= mg that would have been delivered before E.S-2.0 – mg after E.S-2.0; € saved = (mg residues that would have been dispensed and wasted before E.S-2.0 from FL 100 x 8.96 €/mg) + (mg residues that would have been dispensed and wasted before E.S-2.0 from 50 x 10.79 €/mg). In addition, the personalised galenic preparations in controlled contamination pharmacy premises guaranteed a sterile pharmacological manipulation process.
What next?
E.S.-2.0 represents a cost saving policy safeguarding patient security. Practice described is worthy of implementation in hospitals not just for prophylaxis of RVS infection but also for the management of all patients undergoing treatment with therapies that can be prepared in galenical laboratory.