A study on the contents of prescription of the in-patients of a tertiary care hospital, Manipur

Neerajkumar S. Manohar; Thangjam R. Chanu; Oinam J. Singh

doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20231068

Authors

Neerajkumar S. Manohar Department of Pharmacology, Shija Academy of Health Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, India
Thangjam R. Chanu Department of Microbiology, Shija Academy of Health Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, India
Oinam J. Singh Department of Pharmacology, Shija Academy of Health Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20231068

Keywords:

NLEM, Non-NLEM, FDC, ADR, ADE, CME

Abstract

Background: Appropriate medications are the backbone for effective control of infections and diseases. Objective of the study was to analyse the prescriptions relating to national list of essential medicines (NLEM) of a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: Data was collected from 525 case sheets of the surgical in-patients for a period of 1 year which included total number of drugs prescribed, single (NLEM/non-NLEM) drugs, fixed dose combinations (NLEM/non-NLEM) drugs, most common drugs (NLEM/non-NLEM), route of administration, ADR/ADE and herbal drugs. Descriptive statistics was used for analysis of the data.

Results: The total number of drugs observed in the case sheets was 2575. Out of the total drugs, 1942 drugs (75.4%) were from the list of NLEM (2022) while 633(24.6%) drugs were of non-NLEM. 266 drugs (10.33%) were generic drugs and 2309 drugs (89.67%) were proprietary drugs. The total number of single drug was 1839 (NLEM, 1805 + non-NLEM, 34) and that of the total FDC was 736 (NLEM, 137 + non-NLEM, 599). The most common drugs which were prescribed were analgesics: paracetamol 517 (NLEM); diclofenac supp.14 (non-NLEM), antibiotics: ceftriaxone 258 (NLEM, 14.5%), cefpodoxime proxetil 3 (non-NLEM, 8.9%), antihypertensive: telmisartan 13 (NLEM, 0.7%), non-NLEM nil, anti-diabetics: metformin 15 (NLEM, 0.8%), dapagliflozin 6 (non-NLEM, 16.7%), and gastroprotective drugs: pantoprazole 493 (NLEM, 27%), non-NLEM nil.

Conclusions: Non-NLEM drugs should be prescribed only when there is definite advantages of the same over the NLEM drugs. Prescription of proprietary FDC drugs, factors for non-availability and under-prescription of NLEM drugs should be highlighted through CME coupled with awareness about the aim and objectives of the NLEM during clinical practice to the prescribers.

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