Research shows that junior pharmacists working under supervision can save hospitals an average of €181 per patient by reviewing medications for people taking multiple drugs. According to Gram Research analysis of a 19-month hospital study involving 271 patients, medication reviews prevented expensive readmissions and identified cost-saving medication changes, generating €688,000 in total hospital savings despite costing €104 per patient to conduct.
A new study shows that junior pharmacists working under supervision can help hospitals save money by carefully reviewing patients’ medications. Researchers tracked 271 patients taking five or more medications and found that medication reviews prevented expensive hospital readmissions and identified ways to reduce drug costs. According to Gram Research analysis, the average savings per patient was €181, which adds up to nearly €688,000 when applied across an entire hospital. The findings suggest that having junior pharmacists review medications is a smart financial move that also helps keep patients safer.
Key Statistics
A 2026 hospital study of 271 patients found that medication reviews by supervised junior pharmacists saved an average of €181 per patient, totaling €688,000 in estimated hospital-wide savings.
In a 19-month analysis of 1,689 medication recommendations, junior pharmacist-led reviews prevented medication-related readmissions worth €239 per patient while identifying medication changes that saved €46 per patient.
Five drug categories—opiates, beta receptor agonists, corticosteroids, urological drugs, and muscarine receptor antagonists—generated 43% of medication recommendation savings in the hospital medication review study.
A hospital budget impact analysis found that medication reviews by junior pharmacists cost €104 per patient to conduct but generated €285 in savings per patient through medication recommendations and prevented readmissions.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether junior pharmacists (working under supervision) could save hospitals money by reviewing the medications of patients taking many different drugs
- Who participated: 271 patients in a hospital who were taking at least 5 medications and had other health risk factors. The study lasted 19 months and included 1,689 medication recommendations across all patients.
- Key finding: Hospitals saved an average of €181 per patient when junior pharmacists reviewed their medications, adding up to €688,000 in total savings across the hospital. This happened because the reviews prevented expensive readmissions and identified medications that could be stopped or changed.
- What it means for you: If you take many medications in a hospital setting, having a pharmacist review them could help prevent problems and reduce costs. However, this study focused on hospital savings rather than individual patient outcomes, so talk to your healthcare team about whether a medication review would benefit you.
The Research Details
Researchers collected information about medication reviews from a hospital over 19 months. They tracked 271 patients who were taking at least 5 medications and had additional health concerns. For each patient, junior pharmacists (with supervision from experienced pharmacists) reviewed all their medications and made recommendations about which drugs to start, stop, increase, or monitor more closely.
The team then created a financial model to calculate costs and savings. They counted the time junior pharmacists spent on each review and their salaries as costs. They calculated savings by looking at three main areas: preventing expensive hospital readmissions caused by medication problems, reducing drug costs through their recommendations, and the value of better medication monitoring.
The researchers also looked at which types of medications saved the most money and whether certain patient characteristics (like age, kidney function, or number of medications) predicted which patients would save the hospital the most money.
This study is important because hospitals need to know whether hiring junior pharmacists to review medications is worth the investment. Previous research showed that pharmacist-led reviews save money, but no one had studied whether less-experienced junior pharmacists could do this work effectively under supervision. This matters for hospital budgets and for patients, because if junior pharmacists can do this work, hospitals might be able to afford more medication reviews for more patients.
This was a real-world study conducted in an actual hospital over 19 months, which makes the findings practical and relevant. The study included a large number of medication reviews (1,689 recommendations) from 271 patients, providing solid data. However, the study focused only on costs and savings rather than measuring whether patients actually had better health outcomes. The researchers also had to estimate how many hospital readmissions were actually prevented by medication problems (they used 4.8%), which adds some uncertainty to the savings calculations. The study was conducted in one hospital, so results might differ in other hospitals with different costs or patient populations.
What the Results Show
The main finding was that medication reviews by junior pharmacists saved hospitals money overall. The average savings per patient was €181. This breaks down into three parts: the reviews cost €104 per patient to conduct (paying the junior and supervising pharmacists), but the medication recommendations saved €46 per patient, and preventing medication-related hospital readmissions saved €239 per patient.
When researchers applied these numbers to the entire hospital, the total estimated savings reached €688,000. This suggests that even though conducting the reviews costs money upfront, the savings from preventing problems and reducing unnecessary medications far outweigh those costs.
The study found that certain types of medications generated most of the savings. Five drug categories (opiates, beta receptor agonists, corticosteroids, urological drugs, and muscarine receptor antagonists) accounted for 43% of the money saved through medication recommendations. On the other hand, five other drug categories (erythropoietic growth factors, SGLT2 inhibitors, etanercept, etravirine, and calcium/vitamin D formulations) accounted for 70% of the medication costs.
An interesting finding was that the researchers could not identify which types of patients benefited most from medication reviews. They looked at factors like age, gender, kidney function, whether patients were admitted to the hospital acutely, how many medications they took, how many other health conditions they had, whether they were on expensive drugs, and which hospital ward they were in. None of these factors significantly predicted which patients would save the hospital the most money. This suggests that medication reviews are beneficial across different patient groups, not just for specific types of patients.
Previous research has shown that pharmacist-led medication reviews save money and improve patient safety. This study adds to that evidence by showing that junior pharmacists can conduct these reviews effectively under supervision, which is important because it suggests hospitals don’t need to hire only senior pharmacists to get these benefits. The study’s finding of €181 savings per patient is consistent with other research showing that medication reviews are cost-effective interventions. However, this is one of the first studies to specifically measure the budget impact of junior pharmacist-led reviews in a hospital setting.
The study has several important limitations. First, it only measured costs and savings from the hospital’s perspective, not whether patients actually felt better or had fewer health problems. The researchers had to estimate that 4.8% of hospital readmissions were caused by medication problems, and this estimate affects the savings calculations significantly. The study was conducted in one hospital, so the results might not apply to other hospitals with different costs, staffing, or patient populations. The study also didn’t randomly assign patients to receive medication reviews or not, so we can’t be completely certain that the reviews caused the savings. Finally, the study didn’t measure whether the junior pharmacists’ recommendations were actually followed by doctors and nurses, which would affect whether the predicted savings actually happened.
The Bottom Line
Hospitals should consider implementing medication review programs led by supervised junior pharmacists as a cost-effective way to reduce medication-related problems and save money. The evidence suggests this approach works across different patient groups. However, hospitals should also measure whether the recommendations are actually implemented and whether patients experience better health outcomes, not just cost savings. Confidence level: Moderate (the study shows financial benefits, but more research is needed on patient health outcomes).
Hospital administrators and pharmacy directors should care about this research because it shows a practical way to save money while improving medication safety. Patients taking multiple medications in hospital settings may benefit from having a pharmacist review their medications. Healthcare systems looking to improve efficiency should consider this approach. However, patients taking medications at home should note that this study focused specifically on hospital settings, so the results may not directly apply to outpatient medication management.
The cost savings from medication reviews should be realized relatively quickly—within the same hospital stay or within a few months as medication changes take effect and prevent readmissions. However, some benefits (like preventing long-term complications from medication problems) may take longer to appear. Hospitals implementing this program should expect to see financial benefits within the first year of operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do junior pharmacists save hospitals money by reviewing medications?
Yes. A 2026 hospital study found that junior pharmacist-led medication reviews saved €181 per patient on average, totaling €688,000 hospital-wide. Savings came from preventing medication-related readmissions (€239 per patient) and optimizing drug choices (€46 per patient), despite costing €104 per patient to conduct.
What types of medications save the most money when reviewed by pharmacists?
Opiates, beta receptor agonists, corticosteroids, urological drugs, and muscarine receptor antagonists generated 43% of savings. However, some expensive medications like SGLT2 inhibitors and erythropoietic growth factors accounted for 70% of medication costs, showing that reviews help identify where spending is highest.
Can medication reviews prevent hospital readmissions?
The research suggests medication reviews can help prevent readmissions. The study estimated that medication-related problems cause 4.8% of hospital readmissions, and medication reviews identified issues that could prevent these costly readmissions, saving €239 per patient.
Who benefits most from having their medications reviewed by a pharmacist?
The study found that patients taking five or more medications with additional health risk factors benefit from reviews. Interestingly, savings were consistent across different patient groups—age, kidney function, and other characteristics didn’t predict who benefited most, suggesting reviews help diverse patient populations.
Is it cost-effective for hospitals to hire junior pharmacists for medication reviews?
Yes. Despite costing €104 per patient to conduct reviews, hospitals save €181 per patient overall through prevented readmissions and medication optimization. This makes junior pharmacist-led reviews a cost-effective intervention from the hospital’s financial perspective.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track the number of medications you’re taking and any medication changes recommended by your pharmacist. Note the date of each medication review and any adjustments made. This helps you monitor whether recommendations are being followed and allows you to discuss any concerns with your healthcare team.
- Request a medication review from your hospital pharmacist if you’re taking five or more medications, especially if you have other health conditions. Keep an updated list of all your medications (including over-the-counter drugs and supplements) to share with your pharmacist. Ask your pharmacist to explain why each medication is necessary and what side effects to watch for.
- Set reminders to review your medication list every three months or whenever your health changes. Track any side effects or problems you experience and report them to your pharmacist. Keep a record of which medications were stopped, started, or changed and why, so you can see the impact of medication reviews over time.
This research focuses on hospital cost savings and medication review processes, not individual patient health outcomes. The study was conducted in one hospital setting and results may vary in different healthcare systems. If you take multiple medications, consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about whether a medication review is appropriate for your situation. Do not stop, start, or change any medications without guidance from your doctor or pharmacist. This article is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.