Abstract
Health outcome assessment of expensive drugs eg. IVIG which is the treatment of choice for various immune-mediated diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system is essential in the efficient management of limited funds of government hospitals. The objective of this pilot prospective medical record review is to determine the clinical outcome of neurologic patients given free IVIG through the Department of Health Medical Assistance Fund Program (DOH-MAFP) to assist indigent patients in their medical needs from 01 January30 June 2019 at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH). A total of 70 patients received IVIG for various illnesses; only 7 were for neurologic indications namely Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis, anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Majority of free IVIG beneficiaries were female, of pediatric age group and classified by the medical social service (MSS) as class D. The average amount spent is Php 163,592.72 for all the diseases and the overall average hospital stay=21.14 days. However, patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome had an average hospital stay of 6.5 days which is the shortest recorded. In conclusion, all patients given free IVIG are discharged improved whether it is used as a primary or definitive treatment or as an adjunct therapy with no mortality or hospital complication. The accrued costs of treatment is lower compared to other studies. It is therefore recommended to continue the free provision of IVIG from DOH-MAFP to indigent PGH patients and sustain monitoring of clinical outcomes of future utilization of free IVIG.