OBJECTIVES: In Portugal, the dispensing of most outpatient specialty medicines was carried out exclusively through hospital pharmacies (HP). This study aims to assess the patient impact of transferring the dispensing of medicines for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), multiple sclerosis (MS) and breast cancer from HP to community pharmacies (CP), through a pilot program in Portugal (Farma2Care).

METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was carried out. Participants were recruited during the follow-up medic visits in a public hospital in the north region and selected a CP of their convenience for medication dispensation. Data was collected from November 19^th, 2020, to September 3^rd, 2021, through questionnaires in three moments: baseline M0 (recruitment in HP), M1 (first dispensation in CP) and M2 (3 months after the first dispensation in CP). Main outcomes were access to medicines, therapeutic adherence (MMAS-8), health-related quality-of-life (EQ-5D-5L), satisfaction with the service, travel and waiting time, and patients’ costs.

RESULTS: A total of 268 patients/caregivers accepted to participate in the study and 219 (81.7%) were followed in the three moments (72.1% with breast cancer, 21.0% MS and 6.8% HIV). The median age was 56 years old and the majority were women (83.6%). There was a statistically significant increase (p<0.05) of adherence to therapy between M0 and M2 (from 81.0% to 90.5%) and no changes in the EQ-5D-5L score. People’s overall experience improved (from 83.0% to 90.1%), in all satisfaction domains (p<0.05), especially in the waiting time, opening hours and privacy conditions. Travel time significantly decreased (60 to 10 minutes per visit) and waiting time as well (10 to 3 minutes). Consequently, there was significantly absenteeism reduction and savings from travelling.

CONCLUSIONS: Farma2Care program promoted savings for patients and increased medication adherence, suggesting better access, health outcomes, and satisfaction from the patient’s perspective with this proximity service.