Martha Gyansa-Lutterodt (Mrs.)Ghana National Drugs Programme

Ethical Practice and Rational use

04/10/23Ethical Practice and Rational Use of Medicines

Outline

IntroductionThe ethics of our jobsRational useRegulationsConclusion

04/10/23Ethical Practice and Rational Use of Medicines

Introduction

The Sunyani declarationThe preamble of The Code is meant to

ensure that members adhere to the highest ethical standards, professional competence and good behavior in carrying out their duties

Social responsibility: ‘In collecting and disseminating information, the

journalist should bear in mind his/her responsibility to the public at large and the various interests in society’

04/10/23Ethical Practice and Rational Use of Medicines

Rational Use of Medicines

The rational use of medicines requires that patients receive medicines appropriate to their clinical needs, in doses that meet their own individual requirements, for an adequate period of time, and at the lowest cost to them and the community.

(WHO 1975)

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‘Criteria’ for Using Medicines

• Appropriate indication• Appropriate drug• Affordable & necessary• Appropriate administration, dosage and

duration• Appropriate patient• Appropriate patient information• Appropriate evaluation

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Irrational Use of DrugsThe use of drugs when no drug therapy is

indicated

The use of wrong drugs for a specific condition requiring drug therapy

The use of drugs with doubtful or unproven efficacy

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Commonly Encountered Overuse of antibiotics and anti-diarrhoeal

agents for nonspecific childhood diarrhoea

Indiscriminate use of antibiotics for mild, non-bacterial infections (URTI)

Indiscriminate use of injection

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Commonly Encountered

Multiple drug prescription (over prescription)

Multivitamins and tonics for every complaint

Anabolic and other steroids for growth, appetite stimulation etc.

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Who Is To ‘Blame’ For This?

Patients Prescribers Drug Supply System Drug Promotion Regulation

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Regulations Under PNDCL 305B and under LI 1541, it is

an offence to offer for sale products that are unwholesome, improperly labelled or expired

For further informationwww ghndp.orgwww.fdbghana.gov.gh

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Some achievementsStandard Treatment guidelines available

( Sixth edition under review)Essential medicines list/Health Insurance

Medicines lists availableTraining of different target groups

Doctors/PrescribersPharmacistsNursesMedia- Health Communication InstituteMonitoring of Rational Medicine Use

Indicators

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Some Rational use Indicators

Ethical Practice and Rational Use of Medicines

Indicator

Median Average

2006 2006 2002 1998

Number of medicines prescribed per patient contact

3.98 3.98 3.46 4.6

% patients receiving antibiotics 48.35 47.7 42.8 54.0% patients receiving injections 33.15 30.59 34.90 42.0

% prescribed medicines on EDL 83.80 78.92 96.10 96.1

% prescribed medicines being generics 56.70 55.64 - -

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Challenges

AdvertisementsTransparency issuesAccountability issuesChange agents

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ConclusionsMedicines although ‘public good’ are not

ordinary articles of commerceWe all have a duty and responsibility to the

public Let us support approaches to promoting

rational use of medicines in GhanaLet us be active participants of the MeTA

Strategy

04/10/23Ethical Practice and Rational Use of Medicines