A new analysis by Oslo Economics shows that subcutaneous administration of immunotherapy can reduce administration costs by almost 50 percent and free up substantial healthcare personnel resources in Norwegian hospitals.
Healthcare services are increasingly facing capacity constraints, with shortages of healthcare personnel emerging as one of the most significant challenges ahead. On behalf of MSD, Oslo Economics has analysed the costs associated with subcutaneous and intravenous administration of immunotherapy. This analysis provides an updated evidence base to support more targeted use of resources in Norwegian hospitals, in line with the principles set out in the Norwegian Priority-setting White Paper (Meld. St. 21 (2024–2025)):
- Lower costs: The cost per administration is estimated at NOK 6,719 for intravenous administration and NOK 3,901 for subcutaneous administration, based on an extended healthcare perspective.
- More efficient use of personnel: Nurses’ time use is reduced from approximately two hours to less than one hour. If 30,000 treatments are shifted from intravenous to subcutaneous administration, the healthcare system could free up around 22 nursing full-time equivalents and 12 full-time equivalents in hospital pharmacies..
- Improved patient experience: Treatment time can be reduced from approximately 2.5 hours to just over one hour, allowing greater flexibility and reducing the burden on patients and their caregivers.
- Potential for more decentralised service delivery: In the longer term, subcutaneous administration may allow treatment to be delivered outside hospital settings, for example through municipal healthcare services, thereby easing pressure on specialist healthcare services.
Read the report in Norwegian here.
Photo: istock/Nastco
