Cost rationalisation is an important concept which has been trending in the medical world nowadays. The growing cost of providing medical care has forced the medical fraternity to devise ways for rational cost cutting without compromising on the quality of care. In this paper, we will try to analyze the cost effectiveness of prescribing antibiotics to the patients of sore throat.
We will compare the cost of some of the commonly used medicines for sore throat against antibiotic used for the same purpose. In an attempt to determine the cost effectiveness of using antibiotics for the treatment of sore throat, a research was conducted. It established the fact that using antibiotics is a more economical option even when compared with delayed prescription including an early period of watchful waiting (Coco, 2007).
In another research, it was found that the use of antibiotics not only shortens duration of illness, but also reduces the intensity of symptoms which develop as a result of sore throat in the form of associated symptoms like headache, fever and body pain. Reducing the overall illness will also reduce the chances of the patient from being absent at work. Decreasing the rate of absenteeism will be economically viable when it comes to developing countries specifically (Pechère & Kaplan, 2004.
A cost effective proposal will be to prescribe antibiotics right after a culture swab confirms the presence of streptococcus. The plan should include providing training to the medical staff through CMEs about the cost effectiveness of antibiotics. It will include the involvement of physicians and medical administrators. The CME should educate the doctors about the effectiveness and cost efficient factor of antibiotics when it comes to treatment of sore throat through lecture of 2-3 hours and pamphlets or handbooks.
References
Coco, A. (2007). Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Treatment Options for Acute Otitis Media. The Annals Of Family Medicine, 5(1), 29-38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1370/afm.626
Pechère, J. & Kaplan, E. (2004). Streptococcal pharyngitis. Basel: Karger.
