The Cost Analysis of Network Drug Information Services at Ministry of Health Institutions in Saudi Arabia

Objective: To explore analysis cost of network Drug Information Services at Ministry of Health institutions. Methods: It is cost simulation of a 2-months cross-sectional survey of all drug information centers at MOH Hospitals. Any drug opened and provided services to health care professionals and the public participated in the questionnaire. All type of drug information centers national or regional or local at healthcare institutions including in the survey. All type of hospitals or primary care centers included in the survey (public, pediatric, maternity, psychiatry) included in the study. The survey consisted of two part. Demographics data and the second part included the variable expenses included personal cost, material and supply cost, Fixed expenses including direct cost, non-salary cost and overhead cost. All cost used as United States dollar currency. Results: The survey distributed to sixty drug information centers in total responded forty-six centers, the response rate was 76.66 %. The majority of hospitals 11 (23.9%) with (100-199 beds) and 11 (23.9%) with (200-299 beds). The highest average monthly salary was for the Head of Drug Information Centers (3,160.98 USD) followed by the regular pharmacist (2,909.80 USD) and Clinical Pharmacist (2,823.53 USD). The average daily cost of Drug Information Centers was (537.41 USD) and monthly (16,122.3 USD). The most contribution was personal cost 506 USD (94.26%) Followed by material and supply 14.81 (2.75%) USD and non-salary cost 9.06 USD (1.68%). Conclusion: The daily cost of consuming of drug information services is high. The number of services should increase and cost avoidance of clinical activities is required to do periodically. Key words: Cost, Network, Drug Information Services, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.