Economic evaluation of a robotic chemotherapy compounding system and its service expansion to network hospital in Thailand
Abstract Background Robotic systems for chemotherapy preparation offer improved accuracy and staff safety but require substantial capital investment. This study assessed the economic performance of a domestically developed robotic chemotherapy compounding system at Udon Thani Cancer Hospital and its...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13186-7 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849344360706998272 |
|---|---|
| author | Araya Lukanawonakul Somchai Thanasitthichai Kritiya Butthongkomvong Patcharin Usa Namfon Sribundit Surasit Lochid-amnuay |
| author_facet | Araya Lukanawonakul Somchai Thanasitthichai Kritiya Butthongkomvong Patcharin Usa Namfon Sribundit Surasit Lochid-amnuay |
| author_sort | Araya Lukanawonakul |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Robotic systems for chemotherapy preparation offer improved accuracy and staff safety but require substantial capital investment. This study assessed the economic performance of a domestically developed robotic chemotherapy compounding system at Udon Thani Cancer Hospital and its service expansion to a network hospital in Thailand. Methods A descriptive study with economic evaluation was conducted, including cost–benefit analysis, unit cost analysis, and break-even analysis from both provider and health system perspectives. Data from fiscal year 2023 were used. Direct and indirect costs were assessed, and clinical outcomes were documented. A scenario-based sensitivity analysis was performed to examine cost variations under different capacity utilisation levels. Results Robotic preparation had a higher per-dose cost (THB 538 for 4,173 doses) than manual preparation (THB 250 for 20,310 doses), but was associated with total estimated economic benefits of THB 1.88 million, including labour and training savings and improved pharmaceutical care. The break-even point was estimated at 41,802 doses for robotic compounding and 5,122 doses for service expansion. The incremental benefit–cost ratio (IBCR) was 1.566 and increased to 3.018 when including delivery to the network hospital. Conclusions The robotic system demonstrated potential economic and operational advantages, particularly when scaled to serve additional facilities. These findings offer preliminary evidence to inform future policy considerations under Thailand’s Cancer Service Plan. Further evaluation is needed to assess long-term sustainability and broader system-level outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d0262fb709cc4cec9a16109aa0963efd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-d0262fb709cc4cec9a16109aa0963efd2025-08-20T03:42:40ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-07-012511810.1186/s12913-025-13186-7Economic evaluation of a robotic chemotherapy compounding system and its service expansion to network hospital in ThailandAraya Lukanawonakul0Somchai Thanasitthichai1Kritiya Butthongkomvong2Patcharin Usa3Namfon Sribundit4Surasit Lochid-amnuay5Udon Thani Cancer HospitalNational Cancer InstituteUdon Thani Cancer HospitalUdon Thani Cancer HospitalDepartment of Health Consumer Protection and Pharmacy Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn UniversityDepartment of Health Consumer Protection and Pharmacy Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn UniversityAbstract Background Robotic systems for chemotherapy preparation offer improved accuracy and staff safety but require substantial capital investment. This study assessed the economic performance of a domestically developed robotic chemotherapy compounding system at Udon Thani Cancer Hospital and its service expansion to a network hospital in Thailand. Methods A descriptive study with economic evaluation was conducted, including cost–benefit analysis, unit cost analysis, and break-even analysis from both provider and health system perspectives. Data from fiscal year 2023 were used. Direct and indirect costs were assessed, and clinical outcomes were documented. A scenario-based sensitivity analysis was performed to examine cost variations under different capacity utilisation levels. Results Robotic preparation had a higher per-dose cost (THB 538 for 4,173 doses) than manual preparation (THB 250 for 20,310 doses), but was associated with total estimated economic benefits of THB 1.88 million, including labour and training savings and improved pharmaceutical care. The break-even point was estimated at 41,802 doses for robotic compounding and 5,122 doses for service expansion. The incremental benefit–cost ratio (IBCR) was 1.566 and increased to 3.018 when including delivery to the network hospital. Conclusions The robotic system demonstrated potential economic and operational advantages, particularly when scaled to serve additional facilities. These findings offer preliminary evidence to inform future policy considerations under Thailand’s Cancer Service Plan. Further evaluation is needed to assess long-term sustainability and broader system-level outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13186-7Robotic compoundingChemotherapy PreparationEconomic evaluationCost‒benefit analysisThailandHealth system perspective |
| spellingShingle | Araya Lukanawonakul Somchai Thanasitthichai Kritiya Butthongkomvong Patcharin Usa Namfon Sribundit Surasit Lochid-amnuay Economic evaluation of a robotic chemotherapy compounding system and its service expansion to network hospital in Thailand BMC Health Services Research Robotic compounding Chemotherapy Preparation Economic evaluation Cost‒benefit analysis Thailand Health system perspective |
| title | Economic evaluation of a robotic chemotherapy compounding system and its service expansion to network hospital in Thailand |
| title_full | Economic evaluation of a robotic chemotherapy compounding system and its service expansion to network hospital in Thailand |
| title_fullStr | Economic evaluation of a robotic chemotherapy compounding system and its service expansion to network hospital in Thailand |
| title_full_unstemmed | Economic evaluation of a robotic chemotherapy compounding system and its service expansion to network hospital in Thailand |
| title_short | Economic evaluation of a robotic chemotherapy compounding system and its service expansion to network hospital in Thailand |
| title_sort | economic evaluation of a robotic chemotherapy compounding system and its service expansion to network hospital in thailand |
| topic | Robotic compounding Chemotherapy Preparation Economic evaluation Cost‒benefit analysis Thailand Health system perspective |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13186-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT arayalukanawonakul economicevaluationofaroboticchemotherapycompoundingsystemanditsserviceexpansiontonetworkhospitalinthailand AT somchaithanasitthichai economicevaluationofaroboticchemotherapycompoundingsystemanditsserviceexpansiontonetworkhospitalinthailand AT kritiyabutthongkomvong economicevaluationofaroboticchemotherapycompoundingsystemanditsserviceexpansiontonetworkhospitalinthailand AT patcharinusa economicevaluationofaroboticchemotherapycompoundingsystemanditsserviceexpansiontonetworkhospitalinthailand AT namfonsribundit economicevaluationofaroboticchemotherapycompoundingsystemanditsserviceexpansiontonetworkhospitalinthailand AT surasitlochidamnuay economicevaluationofaroboticchemotherapycompoundingsystemanditsserviceexpansiontonetworkhospitalinthailand |