Objective: To quantify, from an economic perspective, the results of the Pilot Program of Dispensation of Medicines in Unitary Dose in Galicia, Spain.
Patients and methods: Retrospective study from 35,923 antibiotic prescriptions in customized doses corresponding to 5 active principles (amoxicillin, amoxicilin/clavulanic, claritromicin, cefuroxima axetil and ciprofloxacin). The program, which worked during 12 months, included 292 physicians from 46 units of primary care of the Galician Health Service and 167 offices of pharmacy.
Results: 60.57% of the prescribed treatments did not adjust exactly to the conventional presentations existing in the market. Savings in units of antibiotic of the dispensation in customized doses compared with the conventional one has been of 14.32%. Registered economic saving has been of 29.94%. The inclusion of 2 new presentations in amoxiciline and amoxiciline/clavulanic (of 15 and 21 tablets) and of one in the other 3 (cefuroxime and ciprofloxacin of 14 tablets and clarithromycin of 16) would avoid 86.5% of the leftover units without having to implement individualized dispensation.
Conclusions: An important antibiotic stock is being generated in home medicine cabinets as a result of the leftovers of prescribed treatments that in the case of Galicia are equivalent to more than 1,800,000 doses of antibiotic in 2004. This problem could be reduced with the dispensation in customized dose and partially with new presentations.