Original article
English
Fathi Mohamed Sherif
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Fateh University of Medical Sciences, Tripoli, Libya
JMJ 2008,Vol.8, No.3:203-206
Abstract
Patterns of prescribing, dispensing and availability of drugs were evaluated in healthcare centres in Tripoli and Al-zawia, over a three months period using World Health Organization (WHO) recommended indicators. The findings revealed high number of patients receiving antibiotics (25%, n = 75, local and systemic), a high number of prescriptions containing one injection (16%, n = 112) and a high number of patients receiving analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs (23%, n = 161). On the other hand, time spent on physician patient consultations (5 – 10 min) and pharmacy dispensing time (counter dispensing) (1 – 3 min) were found to be short. Data on patient knowledge for prescribed drugs was found to be very low. Only 10% (n = 70) of the patients had a good idea about their prescribed drugs. The reasons for self-medication phenomenon were also investigated in this study. Interestingly, the economic factor was found not to be the major cause for self-medication (15%). Time, on the other hand, was found to be an important factor in self-medication at a rate of about 30%. In addition, there were other reasons. Dispensers showed a less care given to the patients during counter dispensing: resulting in a high level of ignorance in drug usage. In conclusion, the baseline data gathered by this study can be used by researchers and policy makers to monitor and ameliorate drug prescribing and consumption practice in Libya. Drug use and prescribing must also be rationalized, particularly in self-medication and misuse of antibiotics.
Keywords: Rational use, Self-medication, Drug use, Drug prescribing, Drug misuse
Link/DOI: http://www.jmj.org.ly/PDF/autumn2008/203.pdf