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.
Distribution optimization of oral oncology therapy in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma: between environmental impact and indirect costs
European Statement
Introductory Statements and Governance
Author(s)
Nicola Nigri, Maria Antonietta Calzola, Silvia Di Marco, Elisa Di Maio, Benedetta Fagotti, Martina Savoia, Luciana Negroni, Fausto Bartolini
Why was it done?
The 1st line treatment in RCC provides Pembrolizumab 200mg IV/21 days plus Axitinib (56cps/pack) P.O./BIS meaning two journeys. The PT and or CG have to come back to the hospital at different moments from the infusion date for 9 times/year, affecting negatively: the compliance, the IC, the patient’s follow-up and, the environmental impact.
What was done?
In Italy, the 1st line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) involves 4791 new diagnoses/year. The most innovative therapies imply the association of intravenous therapy (IV) and oral chemotherapy.
In this case, the Hospital Pharmacist (HP) can assist the compliance and help to minimize the impact linked to indirect costs (IC), often unconsidered, through the reduction of the patient (PT) and or caregiver (CG) trips, improving also their quality of life. The HP can participate in decreasing the CO2 emissions that, in 70% of the cases, are generated by road transportations.
How was it done?
On the IV therapy day, is given to the patient, the oral treatment too (42cps), provided with the necessary documents.
To measure the IC has been considered the organizational costs to the PT and or CG. The time commitment was estimated, in the worst case, in a 2h return journey (150km) between the PT/CG location and the dispensation point. It has been considered 30min as the estimated time to park, arrival, waiting time in pharmacy, drug pick-up and back.
The average hourly earnings considered has been 13,6 €/h. The average diesel-engined utility car emits 95g/km of CO2 emissions.
What has been achieved?
Each avoided trip is 2h x 13,6€ = 34€ for missing productivity or 68€ if both are involved. The total IC avoided/year/PT is the number of avoided journeys/year x 34 = 306€ (612€ if both are involved).
The CO2 emissions are equal to 95g x 150km =14,25kg/distribution/PT, 128,25 kg/year/PT, equal almost to 2,3% of CO2 emission perceived in Italy, that, in the worst case, times the incident PTs/year that will become 614.000tonnes/year.
What next?
The HP shows, even more, its influence on more layers: clinic, economic, and environmental to benefit the patient, our NHS, and our planet, hoping in this approach in more combined therapies.