Quality improvement initiative reduces chemotherapy wastage in paediatric oncology in Pakistan

Prof Alia Ahmad speaks to ecancer about a quality improvement project aimed at reducing chemotherapy wastage in the paediatric oncology day care centre at The Children’s Hospital Lahore, Pakistan.

She explains that interventions included improving communication between families and healthcare teams, introducing a hotline for appointment cancellations and rescheduling, and strengthening staff documentation of wasted and reused chemotherapy.

Prof Ahmad reports that median weekly chemotherapy wastage fell from 2,700 mg at baseline to 694 mg following implementation, while 60% of unused chemotherapy was repurposed for other patients following appropriate dose adjustment.

She highlights how relatively simple improvements in communication, staff engagement and chemotherapy management can substantially reduce wastage and optimise limited resources in paediatric oncology settings.