Assessment of drug utilization from prescribers and dispensers perspectives in selected towns of Amhara region, Ethiopia

Background: Access to essential drugs and up-to-date information related to drugs are critical for optimal provision of health care, particularly in developing countries. However, the situation of drug utilization in Ethiopia is less than optimum and the scarcity of information about it has prompted the undertaking of this study. Objective: To assess the views of health professionals concerning the utilization of drugs in hospitals and retail drug outlets in some selected towns of north west Ethiopia. Methods: Structured questionnaires consisting of open- and close- ended questions on the availability, marketing and usage of drugs and related information were prepared and distributed to drug- prescribers and drug-dispensers. Forty Physicians and 20 drug-dispensers have responded to the questionnaires and their responses were analyzed. Results: The results demonstrated that availability of essential drugs and accessibility to up-to-date drug information was low. Cephalosporins were the most demanded but hardly available drugs. The view of most health professionals towards the usage of drugs was appropriate but the application of the code of Ethics by some drug dispensers, while dispensing and marketing pharmaceuticals was found to be unacceptable. Conclusion: Improving the availability of and accessibility to essential drugs as well as alternative drugs and up-to-date drug information with an application of the professional code of Ethics particularly in pharmacy profession are found to be crucial for optimal and rational phamacotherapy. Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2003;(3):231-237