Abstract
Prescribing, dispensing, availability and affordability of drugs were evaluated in 100 primary health care centres in 5 provinces of the Islamic Republic of Iran using WHO indicators. On average, 92% of the 12 essential drugs monitored were available in the health centre pharmacies and 95% of the drugs prescribed by the physician were dispensed by the health centre pharmacy. The stock-out duration was less than 1 month on average. A complete treatment for pneumonia cost only 2% of the lowest weekly government salary. The national average number of drugs per prescription was 3.4. Prescription of antibiotics and injectable drugs was very high (58% and 41% respectively). Although availability and affordability of essential drugs is good in this country, rational use of drugs needs to be emphasized.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / economics
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
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Drug Costs / statistics & numerical data
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Drug Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data*
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Drug Storage / statistics & numerical data
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Drug Utilization / economics
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Drugs, Essential* / economics
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Drugs, Essential* / supply & distribution
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Drugs, Essential* / therapeutic use
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Efficiency, Organizational
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Guideline Adherence / statistics & numerical data
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Health Care Surveys
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Health Policy
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Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data*
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Health Services Needs and Demand
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Humans
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Iran
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National Health Programs / organization & administration
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Pharmacies / organization & administration
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Pharmacopoeias as Topic
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Pneumonia / drug therapy
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Pneumonia / economics
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Practice Guidelines as Topic
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Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
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Quality Indicators, Health Care
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Salaries and Fringe Benefits / statistics & numerical data
Substances
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Drugs, Essential