Cost-minimization analysis of antimicrobial therapy in a tertiary healthcare institution in Nigeria

Abstract

Cost Minimization Analysis of antimicrobial therapy in a tertiary health care institution in a developing economy country was carried out. The most applicable tool for generic equivalent drugs was used in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, a tertiary healthcare Institution in Nigeria, between 2005 and 2007. Relevant information such as diagnosis, cost of drugs (in Naira – N), dosage, duration of therapy among others were obtained retrospectively from patient case-notes for which antibacterial are the mainstay of therapy and dispensed prescriptions. The mean cost per defined daily dosage (DDD) of generic and branded for each antibacterial was computed. These were compared using Student’s t-test. The outcome measure was potential eradication of bacterial in question by the respective antibacterial drug. The analyses showed that the use of expensive branded drugs were very rampant even when the much cheaper generic equivalent is available. The differences in the mean cost/DDD were very significant for all the antimicrobial agents at p<0.05. For example the mean cost/DDD of ciprofloxacin was N267 for branded product and N80.00 for generic (t = 421.2 at p<0.05).Sensitivity analysis also Confirm this decision. Prescriptions of expensive branded drugs were rampant even when the much cheaper generic equivalents are available. The mean cost per Defined Daily Dose of Branded and Generic equivalent were significantly different for all antibiotics applicable for cost minimization analysis, with Generic Products much cheaper than Branded equivalent.

Keywords: Pharmacoeconomics; Cost-minimization analysis; Antimicrobial; Generic; Branded