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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Social and economic value of Portuguese community pharmacies in health care

Authors: Jorge Félix, Diana Ferreira, Marta Afonso-Silva, Marta Vargas Gomes, César Ferreira, Björn Vandewalle, Sara Marques, Melina Mota, Suzete Costa, Maria Cary, Inês Teixeira, Ema Paulino, Bruno Macedo, Carlos Maurício Barbosa

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Community pharmacies are major contributors to health care systems across the world. Several studies have been conducted to evaluate community pharmacies services in health care. The purpose of this study was to estimate the social and economic benefits of current and potential future community pharmacies services provided by pharmacists in health care in Portugal.

Methods

The social and economic value of community pharmacies services was estimated through a decision-model. Model inputs included effectiveness data, quality of life (QoL) and health resource consumption, obtained though literature review and adapted to Portuguese reality by an expert panel. The estimated economic value was the result of non-remunerated pharmaceutical services plus health resource consumption potentially avoided. Social and economic value of community pharmacies services derives from the comparison of two scenarios: “with service” versus “without service”.

Results

It is estimated that current community pharmacies services in Portugal provide a gain in QoL of 8.3% and an economic value of 879.6 million euros (M€), including 342.1 M€ in non-remunerated pharmaceutical services and 448.1 M€ in avoided expense with health resource consumption. Potential future community pharmacies services may provide an additional increase of 6.9% in QoL and be associated with an economic value of 144.8 M€: 120.3 M€ in non-remunerated services and 24.5 M€ in potential savings with health resource consumption.

Conclusions

Community pharmacies services provide considerable benefit in QoL and economic value. An increase range of services including a greater integration in primary and secondary care, among other transversal services, may add further social and economic value to the society.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Social and economic value of Portuguese community pharmacies in health care
Authors
Jorge Félix
Diana Ferreira
Marta Afonso-Silva
Marta Vargas Gomes
César Ferreira
Björn Vandewalle
Sara Marques
Melina Mota
Suzete Costa
Maria Cary
Inês Teixeira
Ema Paulino
Bruno Macedo
Carlos Maurício Barbosa
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2525-4

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