Download (3100Kb) - Etheses - Saurashtra University

has been realized that only a handful of drugs out of the multitude available canmeet the health needs of majority of the people in any country, and that may be welltested and cheaper drugs are equally (or more) efficient and safe as their newermore expensive congeners. For optimum utilization of resources, governments(specially in developing countries) should concentrate on these drugs by identifyingthem as Essential Drugs. The “WHO” has laid down criteria guideSelection of an essential drug:(I) Adequate data on its efficiency and safety should be available from clinicalstudies.(II) It should be available in a form in which quality, including bioavailability, andstability on storage can be assured.(III) Its choice should depend upon pattern of prevalent diseases; availability offacilities and trained personnel; financial resources; genetic, demographicand environmental factors.(IV) In case of two or more similar drugs, choice should be made on the basis oftheir relative efficiency, safety, quality, price, availability and cost benefit ratioshould be a major consideration.(V) Choice may also be influenced by comparative pharmacokinetic propertiesand local facilities for manufacture and storage.(VI) Most essential drug should be single compound. Fixed ratio combinationproducts should be included only when dosage of each ingredient meets therequirements of a defined population group, and when the combination has aproven advantage.(VII) Selection of essential drug should be a continuous process which should takeinto account the changing priorities for public health action, epidemiologicalcondition as well as availability of better drugs/ formulations and progress inpharmacological knowledge.9General Introduction …..