Cost analysis of Pharmacy On Delivery (POD) and Conventional Counter Dispensing (CCD) in Pusat Rawatan Warga (PRW) UMS

Mohd Hanafiah Ahmad Hijazi and Nabilah Ayob and Norhidayah Danial and Suzana Awg Piut and Veshny Ganesan and Holly Girlchy Jastin and Dhinagar Selgal Raddy and Muhammad Suhail Abdul Wali and Catherine Soo Shen Chan and Airy Anak Andrew Atoi and Sharina Mohd Shah and Rafidah Lamit and Zainib Amirah Anwar and Edwin De Cruz and Jonathan Lamit and Francesca Primus Chew and Thirumurugan Nyanasegram and Mohamad Kamal Mohamed Lazi and Izzati Yussof and Abdul Rahman Ramdzan (2025) Cost analysis of Pharmacy On Delivery (POD) and Conventional Counter Dispensing (CCD) in Pusat Rawatan Warga (PRW) UMS. Borneo Epidemiology Journal (BEJ), 6 (1). pp. 1-13. ISSN 2180-1738

Text FULLTEXT.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (444kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

As the demand for more efficient and accessible healthcare services grows, pharmacy services are evolving to better meet patient needs, offering distinct advantages and challenges in terms of cost, convenience, and accessibility. Pharmacy delivery, whereby one’s medicine being delivered to the comfort of their home or workplace, is one example of pharmacy services evolution, as compared to a standard dispensing at the clinic. This study aims to determine the cost differences between two pharmacy service models implemented at Pusat Rawatan Warga (PRW), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS): Pharmacy On-Delivery (POD) and Conventional Counter Dispensing (CCD). This cross-sectional study was conducted at Pusat Rawatan Warga (PRW), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), over a two-week period. We analysed both fixed and variable costs associated with the Conventional Counter Dispensing (CCD) and Pharmacy On-Delivery (POD) services, with a particular focus on personnel and transportation expenses. Descriptive analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel to calculate means and standard deviations. The findings showed the cost of POD averaging RM6.55 per prescription compared to RM3.44 for CCD, while the time taken averaging 9.80 minutes per prescription for POD compared to CCD’s 5.69 minutes per prescription. The delivery process was the primary driver of the total time required for POD prescriptions, accounting for approximately 54% of the total time involved. Despite the higher costs, the popularity of POD has grown steadily, with its adoption increasing from 2.49% in 2022 to 6.70% in 2024. This study highlights the need to balance the higher operational costs of Pharmacy On-Delivery (POD) services with their benefits in enhancing medication adherence and convenience, especially for patients with chronic conditions. To support sustainability, strategic improvements such as optimizing delivery routes, using GPS-based tracking, and adopting computerized Hospital Information Systems (HIS) are recommended. These findings provide critical insights for improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of POD services at PRW, UMS, particularly in resource-limited healthcare settings.

Item Type:	Article
Keyword:	Pharmaceutical service, medication access, cost analysis, economic evaluation
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28-9999 Industries. Land use. Labor > HD72-88 Economic growth, development, planning H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28-9999 Industries. Land use. Labor > HD9000-9999 Special industries and trades > HD9665-9675 Pharmaceutical industry
Department:	FACULTY > Faculty of Psychology and Social Work
Depositing User:	JUNAINE JASNI -
Date Deposited:	31 Oct 2025 14:52
Last Modified:	31 Oct 2025 14:52
URI:	https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/45538

Actions (login required)

View Item