How to Develop and Implement a National Drug Policy (Second Edition): Part II: Key components of a national drug policy: 9. Rational use of drugs: 9.1 Why is it important to promote rational use?

How to Develop and Implement a National Drug Policy (Second Edition)
(2001; 96 pages) [French] [Spanish]

Table of Contents

Contributors
Abbreviations and acronyms
Preface
Part I: How to develop and implement a national drug policy
	1. Introduction
		1.1 Essential drugs are not used to their full potential
		1.2 What is a national drug policy?
		1.3 Key components of a national drug policy
	2. The national drug policy process
		2.1 Overview of the national drug policy process
		2.2 Formulating a national drug policy
		2.3 Implementing a national drug policy
		2.4 Monitoring and evaluation
	3. Legislation
		3.1 Importance of legislation and regulations
		3.2 Framework for drug legislation
		3.3 Developing drug legislation and regulations
Part II: Key components of a national drug policy
	4. Selection of essential drugs
		4.1 Essential drugs
		4.2 Old problems and new challenges
		4.3 Strategies for the selection of essential drugs
		4.4 Traditional and herbal medicines
	5. Affordability
		5.1 Challenges
		5.2 Strategies to increase affordability
	6. Drug financing
		6.1 Challenges
		6.2 Drug financing options
	7. Supply systems
		7.1 Public or private? Or mixed?
		7.2 Drug procurement
		7.3 Local manufacture
		7.4 Distribution strategies
		7.5 Drug supply in emergency situations
	8. Drug regulation
		8.1 Need for drug regulation and quality assurance
		8.2 Basic requirements for drug regulation
		8.3 Core elements of drug regulation
		8.4 Stepwise approach to drug registration
		8.5 Quality
		8.6 Safety
		8.7 Efficacy
		8.8 Information and drug promotion
		8.9 Information exchange with WHO and with other agencies
	9. Rational use of drugs
		9.1 Why is it important to promote rational use?
		9.2 Challenges
		9.3 Planning for activities to promote rational use of drugs
		9.4 Core strategies to improve drug use
		9.5 Educational strategies
		9.6 Managerial strategies to promote rational drug use
		9.7 Regulatory strategies to promote rational drug use
		9.8 Promoting rational drug use in the private sector
	10. Research
		10.1 Introduction
		10.2 Strategies to promote research
	11. Human resources development
		11.1 Introduction
		11.2 Strategies for human resource development
	12. Monitoring and evaluation
		12.1 Monitoring and evaluation are part of a national drug policy
References
Selected WHO publications and documents of related interest
Back cover

9.1 Why is it important to promote rational use?

All drugs, including essential drugs, can be used irrationally. Irrational use is widespread in both developing and industrialized countries; it occurs in public and private sector health facilities and in the home. Many of the gains of efficient selection, procurement and distribution can be lost by irrational prescribing and by lack of adherence to treatment by the patient.

Irrational drug use has both medical and economic consequences. In medical terms, inappropriate treatment may lead to unnecessary suffering and death, to iatrogenic disease and hospital admissions, and to increased antimicrobial resistance. Irrational drug use also decreases public confidence in the health care system and attendance rates of curative and preventive services. Economically, irrational drug use leads to an enormous waste of resources and to unavailability of essential drugs in other areas where they may be needed.