title: Does a system of instalment dispensing for newly prescribed medicines save NHS costs? Results from a feasibility study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In view of the increasing cost of general practice of drug prescribing, it is important to look at ways of reducing drug wastage and thereby improve the cost-effectiveness of prescribing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the costs and cost savings to the NHS of instalment dispensing for newly prescribed medicines and to quantify the extra costs incurred by patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomized to receive either a normal (n = 103) or an instalment (n = 101) prescription.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference between prescribed and dispensed drug costs in the intervention group was 0.98 UK pounds per patient (95% confidence interval 0.14-1.82 UK pounds), giving a 7% reduction in drug costs. The costs of the additional pharmacy time required to implement the intervention was calculated to be 5.02 UK pounds per patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Introduction of a system of instalment dispensing produced savings in the general practice of drugs bill, but these were not large enough to offset additional costs for pharmacists.
authors.affiliation: Dingwall Medical Group-Health Centre, Ferry Road, Dingwall, Ross-Shire, UK. jsmdingwall@hotmail.com
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Millar
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McNamee
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heaney
authors.forename: Sivasubramaniam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Selvaraj
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morton
mesh_terms: D017046:Cost Savings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000191:economics; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011306:Prescription Fees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics*; D014195:Travel / Q000191:economics; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs