Cost Effectiveness of Advanced Pharmacy Services Provided in the Community and Primary Care Settings: A Systematic Review

Dalia M. Dawoud (), Alexander Haines, David Wonderling, Joanna Ashe, Jennifer Hill, Mihir Varia, Philip Dyer and Julian Bion
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Dalia M. Dawoud: Cairo University
Alexander Haines: Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment Collaborative
David Wonderling: Royal College of Physicians
Joanna Ashe: Royal College of Physicians
Jennifer Hill: Royal College of Physicians
Mihir Varia: NHS Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group
Philip Dyer: Heartlands Hospital
Julian Bion: University of Birmingham

PharmacoEconomics, 2019, vol. 37, issue 10, No 4, 1260 pages

Abstract: Abstract Background Pharmacists working in community and primary care are increasingly developing advanced skills to provide enhanced services, particularly in dealing with minor acute illness. These services can potentially free-up primary care physicians’ time; however, it is not clear whether they are sufficiently cost effective to be recommended for wider provision in the UK. Objective The aim of this study was to review published economic evaluations of enhanced pharmacy services in the community and primary care settings. Methods We undertook a systematic review of economic evaluations of enhanced pharmacy services to inform NICE guidelines for emergency and acute care. The review protocol was developed and agreed with the guideline committee. The National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database, Health Technology Assessment Database, Health Economic Evaluations Database, MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched in December 2016 and the search was updated in March 2018. Studies were assessed for applicability and methodological quality using the NICE Economic Evaluation Checklist. Results Of 3124 records, 13 studies published in 14 papers were included. The studies were conducted in the UK, Spain, The Netherlands, Australia, Italy and Canada. Settings included community pharmacies, primary care/general practice surgeries and patients’ homes. Most of the studies were assessed as partially applicable with potentially serious limitations. Services provided in community and primary care settings were found to be either dominant or cost effective, at a £20,000 per quality-adjusted life-year threshold, compared with usual care. Those delivered in the patient’s home were not found to be cost effective. Conclusions Advanced pharmacy services appear to be cost effective when delivered in community and primary care settings, but not in domiciliary settings. Expansion in the provision of these services in community and primary care can be recommended for wider implementation.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1007/s40273-019-00814-4

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