Essential Medicines

[attachment=16965]
Irrational use of Medicines
• It is assumed that more than half
of all medicines are prescribed,
dispensed or sold inappropriately,
and that half of all patients fail to
take them correctly.
• The overuse, underuse or misuse
of medicines

.Essential Medicines are defined as:
“those that satisfy the health care needs of
the majority of the population, they should
therefore be available at all times in
adequate amounts and in the appropriate
dosage forms and at a price the individual
and community can afford”.

• Published in WHO Essential Drug List


Features

• Essential medicines are selected with
due regard to disease prevalence,
evidence on efficacy and safety, and
comparative cost-effectiveness.
• The concept of essential medicines is
forward-looking.


• It incorporates the need to :
– regularly update medicines selections
to reflect new therapeutic options and
changing therapeutic needs;
– ensure drug quality
– continue development of better
medicines, medicines for emerging
diseases, and medicines to meet
changing resistance patterns.



Pharmacoepidemiology
• Study of the use and effects of drugs
in large numbers of people.
• Observational studies on efficacy and
safety of new drugs