OBJECTIVES:: To conduct an analysis of the budget impact switching Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients to indacaterol/glycopyrronium.

METHODS:: A budget impact model was developed to compare costs with and without the introduction of indacaterol/glycopyrronium to the Health Benefit Plan for treatment of COPD patients. This analysis was developed from the adaptation of the results of a cost-effectiveness model for indacaterol/glycopyrronium. The impact of indacaterol/glycopyrronium use was estimated for a time horizon of five years of inclusion into the benefits plan.

RESULTS:: Total cumulative budget impact in pesos (COP) when including indacaterol/glycopyrronium within the benefits plan for treatment of COPD patients generates savings of COP $15,072,064,821, which represents savings of 0.04% on 2017 UPC (Capitation Payment Unit). On the other hand, the use of indacaterol/glycopyrronium represents savings of $1,898,016,167 (7.18% of the scenario without indacaterol/glycopyrronium) regarding costs of pneumonia given by 389 pneumonia events avoided. Exacerbation costs are reduced in $3,287,567,467 (3,8% of the scenario without indacaterol/glycopyrronium) given by a reduction of 19,019 non-severe exacerbations and 792 severe exacerbations. The budget impact of drug costs is $9,887,071,187.

CONCLUSIONS:: Inclusion of indacaterol/glycopyrronium in the benefits plan results in 389 avoided pneumonias, 19,019 avoided non-severe exacerbations and 792 avoided severe exacerbations over 5 years, translating to savings of $15,072,064,821, which produce a total cumulative budget impact of 0.04% of the UPC. The switch to indacaterol/glycopyrronium reduces the costs of exacerbations and pneumonia in the context of the Colombian healthcare system which represents a better quality of life for COPD patients, and a continuous improvement in health results regarding COPD.