Impacto orçamentário da incorporação da claritromicina no tratamento de infecção respiratória associada à COVID-19

This study aimed to estimate the budgetary impact of using clarithromycin as a supporting macrolide in the empirical treatment scheme for patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Budget impact analysis was carried out from the perspective of the Unified Health System, using the Brazilian Budget Impact Analysis Worksheet. Three alternative scenarios and one reference scenario were evaluated. The cost over five years in the baseline scenario was R$2,504,887.92. The incorporation of clarithromycin in alternative scenarios may represent an average incremental cost greater than 22% of the budget available for the acquisition of azithromycin in five years, and its offer to all patients in the hospital may be economically unfeasible, without prejudice to the care of other demands.