Introduction:

The safety and cost problems of serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have a considerable weight in health systems, but the evidence shown in the studies published in Cuba is still scarce.

Objective:

To determine costs associated with the pharmacological treatment of serious adverse reactions in the country.

Method:

A partial evaluation of cost description was carried out from the perspective of the National Health System in the 2003-2013 period. A micro-costing method was used. Unit and total costs were calculated for a time horizon of 24 hours after the serious adverse reaction occurred and these were expressed in Cuban pesos.

Results:

13 293 of the total of serious AMR had a description of the immediate pharmacological treatment (17.9 %). This represented a total cost of $ 62,228.05. The average cost was $ 4.69. The highest percentages of serious RAM were in the ranges between $ 1.00 and $ 3.00 CUP (24.3 %). Hypersensitivity ADRs represented 34.2 % of the total cost with $ 21,283.41 CUP. Those of moderate intensity represented 81.7 %. In practically all cases, it cost more to treat serious ADRs than the cost of the pharmacological treatment that originated it.

Conclusions:

The results showed that serious ADRs prove to be a problem and generate costs for the national health system, which is why measures aimed at its detection and prevention are required to improve patient safety hence reduce costs.

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