OBJECTIVES: Ensuring the continuing of care is an imperative need, therefore throughout COVID-19 outbreak, the Portuguese Government released directives to guarantee hospital-only medicines' dispensing through the community pharmacy, reducing contacts between patients and Hospitals. This study aims to measure the value generated by the intervention of the community pharmacy in the dispensing of hospital medicines.

METHODS: A single-arm, before-and-after study with 3-month follow-up, was carried out in Portugal, enrolling a randomly selected sample of patients with at least one dispensation of a hospital-only medicine through the community pharmacy. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire applied by telephone interview from May 15^th to October 10^th, 2020. Main outcomes were access to medicines, therapeutic adherence (MAT-7), health-related quality-of-life (EQ-5D-3L), satisfaction with the service, travel and waiting time, and related costs to patients.

RESULTS: A total of 603 patients/caregivers accepted to participate in the study. The mean age was 55 years old (SD=16) and 50.6% were male. On average, the estimated time gained with the community pharmacy service was 115.1 minutes/visit compared to hospital. Annual savings derived from travel expenses (€237.6) and absenteeism (€67.4) reduction account for 271.6€/patient. There was an increase in the mean score of adherence to therapy (p<0.05) and no statistically significant changes in the mean EQ-5D-3L score. Overall, 91% of respondents would choose to continue to have access to their medication at the community pharmacy, in post-pandemic scenario. Participants reported an increase of satisfaction levels in all evaluated domains – pharmacist’s availability, opening hours, waiting time, privacy conditions and overall experience.

CONCLUSIONS: Changing the dispense setting to the community pharmacies seems to promote better access, health outcomes and satisfaction for patients. Moreover, it ensures the persistence of treatments, promotes savings for patients and society, and reduces the burden of health care services, representing a crucial public health measure.