Abstract:
In Bangladesh, the government healthcare system remaIns a
very minor source of health care. The treatments provided by the
doctors remain open to question, with instances of maltreatment
or inadequate treatment. The treatments are mostly symptomatic
and polypharmacy is
Common, with antibiotics and vitamins prescribed widely. On
the other hand, rural people sometimes do not buy all the drugs
that are prescribed for them, partly because off tnancial
constraint. In addition, self medication is common. The
provision of drugs is the component of primary health care that
patients most often demand and expect. Nevertheless, drugs
continue to be in short supply, even when large portions of the
health care budget are allocated for their procurement.
In June 1982 Bangladesh introduced a national drug policy
(NDP) and a drugs ordinance, which follow WHO guidelines on
the selection of essential drugs. Since the enactment of the drug
policy, the production, quality, and availability of essential
drugs have significantly improved. Although consultations with
doctors most commonly result in drugs being prescribed, very
little is known about the proper use of drugs. The quality of
health care, particularly the rational use of drugs, depends on a
wide range of activities, such as making the correct diagnosis,
prescribing the appropriate drug and dispensing them properly.
When used rationally, drugs cure ailments; on the other hand,
they may be dangerous and can threaten life when used
irrationally.
The aim of the current survey was to assess drug use for
common diseases and to record the availability of essential
drugs. The survey examined current treatment practices at
outpatient clinics, including Assessment of patient care, physical
examination, and the time given to each patient; assessment of
the dispensing process in terms of the time taken and whether
drugs were dispensed according to prescription; patient's
knowledge of how to take the drugs; the availability of twelve
essential drugs on the survey date; and the availability of an
essential drugs list in the facilities.
The drug use pattern and the quality of care were assessed in 5
Upazilla Health Complexes of Bangladesh. A total of 30
prescriptions, consultations, and drug-dispensing practices were
studied, and the availability and use of essential drugs and of the
essential drugs list were recorded.
The average consulting time was 2.4 minute. The mean
number of drugs prescribed per patient was 2.3. 33.30/0 were
treated with antibiotics, and 17% with metronidazole,
irrespective of the diagnoses. The availability of essential drugs
was 77% and there was no essential drugs list in the health
facilities. However, 73% of the drugs were prescribed by their
generic names, 85% complied with the essential drugs list, and
80% were dispensed according to prescription. The average
dispensing time was 29 seconds. The patient's knowledge on the
drug dosage was 100%.
Contents
Description:
This thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) in East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.