Hyderabad: Doctors are not adhering to the standards set by the World Health Organisation when it comes to prescribing drugs. They are prescribing needless drugs, especially antibiotics, even while medical researchers across the world are trying to combat antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Six researchers from Malla Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences and Malla Reddy College of Pharmacy have conducted a study by evaluating 4,000 medical prescriptions by doctors received at 106 pharmacies in Ranga Reddy district and analysed them using WHO prescription parameters.
The researchers found that the percentage of antibiotics prescribed by doctors per prescription was 30 per cent, whereas the WHO standard is 20-26.8 per cent. The average number of drugs prescribed per patient per visit was also found to be much higher at 2.31, compared to the WHO standard of 1.6-1.8.
Two findings which raised the suspicion that doctors might be prescribing drugs to benefit their favourite pharmaceutical company were the values obtained of drugs prescribed as per Model Lists of Essential Medicines of WHO and the parameter of drugs prescribed by generic name.
WHO has prepared a ‘Model Lists of Essential Medicines’ for various ailments. These are drugs which satisfy the healthcare needs of majority of the population aiming towards rational use of drugs. Such drugs are expected to be available at all times in adequate amounts, at affordable prices.
It was found that only 53 per cent of the drugs in the analysed 4,000 prescriptions were from the WHO list. More shocking was the finding that less than 0.5 per cent of drugs were prescribed by doctors in generic form and the rest had brand names. Usage of generic names helps in reducing the spending on drugs as well as clears confusion at pharmacies. It was also found that WHO guidelines were not followed for ailments related to circulatory and digestive systems and orthopedic issues.
Former Indian Medical Association secretary Dr Yadagiri Rao said, “There is nothing wrong in what the doctors are doing. They prescribe medicines as per what is best for their patients and they know what they are doing. For example, when it comes to prescribing generic drugs or writing generic names in prescriptions, doctors avoid it because generic drugs are not as effective as branded ones. Patients desire effective treatment and for that branded drugs are necessary.”
