Optimization model for combining drug vials in the preparation of doses for outpatient

Planning the use of chemotherapy drugs in outpatient treatment is a complex problem due to the variability of cancer, resulting in different chemotherapy protocols. This process involves factors such as the cyclical nature of treatment protocols and clinical resources. Within this context, an optimization model is needed to plan the use of chemotherapy drugs in the preparation of doses for patient treatment, considering the operational particularities of treatment centers. This study proposed a linear programming model based on the multiple knapsack problem, in order to optimize the combination of different vials of chemotherapy drugs, minimizing the total cost of treatment. The model, based on the daily schedule of patients, provides the best combination of drug vials and supports the preparation process of each dose prescribed by the doctor for each patient, respecting the treatment protocol and resource limitations. The model was implemented in the CPLEX 12.9.0 application, and the computational tests were performed with real data. The results demonstrated that the costs when applying the model were 5% lower when compared to the current manner in which the oncology pharmacy combines the drugs vials.