The Need for Rational Use of Medications

The Need for Rational Use of Medications
Date: 9/6/2010

TUMSPR News: According to the World Health Organization, more than 50% of all medications are prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately, and half of all patients fail to take medicines correctly. There seems the need for a huge effort to address the problem.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 50% of all medications are prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately, and half of all patients fail to take medicines correctly. There seems the need for a huge effort to address the problem.

By the term “Rational Use of Medicines” we mean that patients receive the appropriate drugs or medications, in the proper dose, for an adequate period of time, and ideally at the lowest cost to them and their community.

The problem seems to arise from overuse, underuse or misuse of medicines which will harms people and waste resources. Statistically, more than 50% of all medicines are prescribed and sold inappropriately and half of the patients fail to take them correctly. Among a great number of problems that aggrevate the situation polypharmacy or use of too many medicines, overuse of antibiotics and injectable medications and inappropriate self-medication seem to be of more importance.

In developing countries the problem finds a new and graver dimension as less than 40% of patients in the public sector and 30% in the private sector are treated according to clinical guidelines.

WHO advises countries to implement national programs for promoting rational use of medicines through policies, structures, information and education that follow:

• a national body to coordinate policies on medicine use and monitor their impact;
• evidence-based clinical guidelines for training, supervision and supporting decision-making about medicines;
• lists of essential medicines used for medicine procurement and insurance reimbursement;
• drug (medicines) and therapeutics committees in districts and hospitals to monitor and implement interventions to improve the use of medicines;
• problem-based training in pharmacotherapy and prescribing in undergraduate curricula;
• continuing medical education as a requirement of licensure;
• publicly available independent and unbiased information about medicines for health personnel and consumers;
• public education about medicines;
• elimination of financial incentives that lead to improper prescribing, such as prescribers selling medicines for profit to supplement their income;
• regulations to ensure that promotional activities meet ethical criteria; and
• adequate funding to ensure availability of medicines and health personnel.

In conclusion, it seems that the most effective approach in develop countries is the implementation of a combination of health-care provider education and supervision, consumer education, and an adequate medication supply. Implementation of any of these interventions alone seems to have limited impact.

http://publicrelations.tums.ac.ir/english/news/detail.asp?newsID=18670