Drug waste minimization as an effective strategy of cost-containment in oncology.

Background: Sustainability of cancer care is a crucial issue for health care systems worldwide, even more during a time of economic recession. Low-cost measures are highly desirable to contain and reduce expenditures without impairing the quality of care. In this paper we aim to demonstrate the efficacy of drug waste minimization in reducing drug-related costs and its importance as a structural measure in health care management.

Drug waste minimisation and cost-containment in Medical Oncology: two-year results of a feasibility study.

Background: Cost-containment strategies are required to face the challenge of rising drug expenditures in Oncology. Drug wastage leads to economic loss, but little is known about the size of the problem in this field.

Methods: Starting January 2005 we introduced a day-to-day monitoring of drug wastage and an accurate assessment of its costs.