Economic benefit
Drug prices remain high due to difficulties in drug research and
development and huge investment, which leads to a more and more profound
contradiction between the public’s willingness to reduce drug prices
[40]. In the face of expensive drugs, especially prescription drugs
[41], it is difficult to fundamentally reduce drug pricing. Although
pharmacists cannot change the drug price, but based on the understanding
and comparison of drugs, they can provide patients with a more
cost-effective drug regimen and reduce the economic burden of patients,
which will directly improve the economic practicability of the treatment
scheme. In the current hospital services, especially the treatment with
high cost, the intervention of pharmacists can have a beneficial impact
on the economic effect. Studies related to nursing in intensive care
unit have shown that the addition of pharmacists can optimize the
treatment plan and reduce the unnecessary use of drugs, therefore,
making it effective in reducing the cost of medication: Pharmacists can
reduce the improper use of albumin in the intensive care unit, decrease
the amount and cost of albumin, and save about $355000 a year in ICU
[42]; And a study, evaluating the intervention of pharmacists in
adult intensive care units, also showed that pharmacists participating
in a multidisciplinary ICU team, could provide meaningful intervention
advice to the medical team and reduce drug costs, saving the team about
$263000 in one year [43]. Surgery or chronic diseases also cost a
lot of medical expenses, and studies have shown that pharmacists can
also use professional knowledge and skills to reduce the financial
burden of patients: Allowing pharmacists to care for (TJA) patients
undergoing total joint replacement optimizes drug treatment throughout
the nursing process, which can save the institution a net cost of about
$73000 per year [44]; A systematic review of the effects of
pharmacists on nursing care for the prognosis of diabetes shows that
such interventions can save about $80,000 per person per year compared
with routine care. Thus, the study strongly recommends that experienced
pharmacists should be involved in the work of multidisciplinary diabetes
care teams on a long-term basis [45].