Rational use of Medicines: Can We Promote

Rational use of drugs can be defined as prescribing the right drug, in sufficient dose for the adequate duration and suitable to the clinical requirements of the patients at least cost. Causes of irrational use comprise not have of knowledge, skills or self-determining information, unhampered accessibility of medicines, overburden of health personnel, unsuitable promotion of medicines and earnings motives from selling medicines. In appropriate drug use can have dire consequences; it has been associated with hospitalization and even caused deaths of inpatients in health care facilities. A variety of situations and circumstances promote irrational use of medicines. Rational use of medication saves lives, confines undesired toxicity, adverse events and maximize on the benefits that can be imitative from best use of medications. According to surveys conducted in 2004 by HAI Africa and WHO in 11 Sub-Saharan Africa countries in 2004, the average accessibility of the essential medicines in public health facilities was below 70%. Communication between professionals and consumers is essential to the enhancement of rational use of medicines. It is essential to recommence collaboration of physicians and pharmacists concerning accurate and competent drugs prescribing. Governments, private health care institutions, entity health care providers and patients all have an accountability to endorse rational use of medicines. Professionals should provide information to the customers about the name of the medicine, the intention for which the medicine is being taken, dose, frequency of use, and duration of use.