“Saving Resources Due to the Operation of the Centralized Cytostatic Preparation Unit (Ccpu) in Greek Hospitals: The Case of the Ccpu in the Hospital Evangelismos”

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the economic impact of the operation of a centralized cytostatic preparation unit (CCPU) for the dissolution of cytostatic drugs with real data from the greek General Hospital of Athens “Evangelismos”. Avoiding the preparation of chemotherapy regimens in each nursing department separately provides a financial benefit in the calculation made at the end of the year and thus reduces government expenditure on drugs. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out at the General Hospital of Athens (GNA) “Evangelismos” (1st Health Region, HYPE), following the approval of the Competent Body of the Hellenic Open University (HOU), the Scientific Council (SC) and the Director of the Hospital, with the assistance of responsible pharmacist of the central pharmacy. In total, the data collected and analyzed in the present study pertain to the five-year period from 2018 to 2022 are related to the chemotherapy regimens prepared per year and per clinic, the stocks of cytostatic drugs in the pharmacy warehouse per year, as well as the returns of intact vials to the central pharmacy per year in physical units. Results: It was estimated that the Hospital saved: in 2018 an amount of 696.094,23 euros by administering 13.997 chemotherapy regimens, in 2019 an amount of 915.873,97 euros by administering 15.296 chemotherapy regimens, in 2020 an amount of 555.676,21 euros by administering 14.113 chemotherapy regimens, in 2021 an amount of 356.544,10 euros by administering 13.113 chemotherapy regimens, in 2022 an amount of 426.607,93 euros by administering 14.871 chemotherapy regimens. Conclusions: The study highlights mostly the economic benefits of the operation of the CCPU at “Evangelismos” General Hospital of Athens, which primarily result from the return of unused vials of cytostatic drugs from the unit to the central pharmacy. For the studied five-year period (2018–2022), the savings are estimated about €2.950.796, 44. Furthermore, through the unit, there is an improvement in the quality of services provided to patients and resource management, reducing healthcare expenditure waste. Additionally, it provides a safe and more organized and controlled working environment for the operators of dissolutions.