Abstract: Poor drug regulation and lack of independent unbiased drug information are the main contributing reasons for irrational drug use in India. As about 40% of the health care services budget is consumed by medicines and with a limited resource available, it is essential to promote rational drug use. Drug information from commercial sources are very often biased and hence noncommercial, independent, unbiased source of drug information is important. Drug information centers are established in many hospitals and National Human Rights Commission recommended the establishment of such centers in every hospital.
The recent controversy on the widespread uses of Nimesulide, an anti-inflammatory agent, as fever and pain reliever in pediatric patients raised alarm in every one's mind on its safety. The drug is not approved in Sri Lanka & Bangladesh and many countries have banned its use. Another decision of the country to allow the sale of Thalidomide (once banned through out the world for its adverse effects on fetus) of course for a new indication, multiple myeloma, a type of cancer, has been termed as an 'unwise move&pi0; by the press. "While the drug is still banned in UK and France, in USA it is not available for general sale" the press report continued. In a nation where almost any drug can easily be bought over the counter, it is dangerous to allow free sale of drugs like Thalidomide.
These are not isolated cases. It has already been reported that India is the country with significant drug use problems. Irrational and unnecessary prescribing is common and antibiotic resistance is widespread.1 Besides poor drug regulation, the lack of independent unbiased drug information for doctors and other health care professionals is the main contributing reason for irrational drug use in the country. 2,3 |
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