Challenges to rational prescribing and use of essential medicines in India
Keywords:
Essential Medicines, WHO, India, NLEMAbstract
The concept of essential medicines was introduced in 1977 with the publication of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines. These medicines are intended to satisfy the priority health care needs of the population. They are selected with regard to public health relevance, evidence of efficacy and safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness. Essential medicines are intended to be available within the context of functioning health systems at all times in adequate amounts, in the appropriate dosage forms, with assured quality and at a price the individual and the community can afford. The WHO advises countries to adapt the essential medicines list according to their priority health care needs. The model list of WHO serves as a guide for the development of a national list of essential medicines (NLEM). An essential medicines list can serve as a model for procurement, local licensing and manufacturing, and the rational use of good-quality medicines, especially within the public sector. It also helps in allocating limited resources effectively and in a cost-effective manner.References
Kar SS, Pradhan HS, Mohanta GP. Concept of essential medicines and rational use in public health. Indian J Community Med 2010;35:10-3.
Hogerzeil HV. The concept of essential medicines: lessons for rich countries. BMJ 2004;329:1169-72.
Manikandan S, Gitanjali B. National list of essential medicines of India: The way forward. J Postgrad Med 2012;58:68-72.
Thomas D, Seetharam G, Alvarez-Uria G. Essential medicines concept for quality assurance of health care facilities. J Pharm Bioallied Sci 2012;4:172.
Maxwell SR. How should teaching of undergraduates in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics be delivered and assessed? Br J Clin Pharmacol 2012;73:893-9.
Ganguly NK, Arora NK, Chandy SJ, et al. Rationalizing antibiotic use to limit antibiotic resistance in India. Indian J Med Res 2011;134:281-94.
Mangrulkar SV, Mangrulkar S, Khair P, Phalke A. Antibiotic use in the intensive care unit. J Assoc Physicians India 2012;60:15-8.
Mahajan R, Singh NR, Singh J, Dixit A, Jain A, Gupta A. Current scenario of attitude and knowledge of physicians about rational prescription: A novel cross-sectional study. J Pharm Bioallied Sci 2010;2:132-6.
Potharaju HR, Kabra SG. Prescription audit of outpatient attendees of secondary level government hospitals in Maharashtra. Indian J Pharmacol 2011;43:150-6.
Sinha K. New drug policy to curb misuse of antibiotics, 2011. Available at http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-18/india/28614513_1_antibiotic-policy-new-drug-policy-prescription. Accessed 15 January 2013.
National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy, 2012 (NPPP-2012). Available at http://www.pharmaceuticals.gov.in/NPPP2012.pdf. Accessed 15 January 2013.
Kotwani A. Commentary: will generic drug stores improve access to essential medicines for the poor in India? J Public Health Policy 2010;31:178-84.
Roy C, Das JK, Jha HK, Bhattacharya V, Shivdasani JP, Nandan D. Logistics and supply management system of drugs at different levels in Darbhanga District of Bihar. Indian J Public Health 2009;53:147-50.
