Pharmacoeconomic modelling approach in surfactant usage and stock optimization

Surfactant deficiency in newborns is a result of the respiratory insufficient condition which is a major cause of illness and death. In terms of the maintenance of vital functions that require emergency intervention, it is crucial that surfactant is available for treatment upon request. The unknown times between patient arrivals and the patient's stochastic weight changes in the hospital cause difficulties in determining the amount of surfactant needed. The surfactant dosage needed for treatment of patients must be calculated according to the patient's weight. In this study, the mathematical programming model that minimizes the purchase, order, holding and waste costs of the surfactant has been developed while finding the optimum vial by considering these random variables. The pharmacoeconomic model, with cost and demand affecting each other, uses a continuous inventory control policy, including calculating how much each preparation and vial should be buy for, the points for ordering it again, and the number of orders. Also, the validity of the optimum values obtained with the mathematical model of the 66 bed neonatal intensive care unit in a hospital was tested with real data and a simulation model. Keywords: Inventory Management, Surfactant, Optimization, Cost Minimization, Simulation