Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3225

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Publication type: Journal Article

Yudkin JS.
Use and misuse of drugs in the Third World.
Dan Med Bull 1984 Nov; 31:

Abstract:

The main determinants of health in the under-developed world are social and not pharmaceutical. The existing health care system in many third world countries is biased towards curative services for urban areas while the mass of rural poor are deprived of even the essential drugs. The main constraint to improving pharmaceutical planning is the prescribing habits of the doctors and this in turn is determined mainly by the unbridled promotional activities of the pharmaceutical industry. Polypharmacy and the prescribing of useless or dangerous drugs for unjustifiable indications not only consumes scarce public resources but also diverts private resources in wasteful directions. Rational pharmaceutical policy must begin with a control on the activities of the pharmaceutical industry but a change in medical attitudes is an essential component of appropriate drug use.

Keywords:
*analysis/developing countries/promotion costs and volume/sales representatives/regulation of promotion/commercial compendia/ dangerous drugs/ Ciba-Geigy/Glaxo/Organon/anabolic steroids/dipyrone/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: COMMERCIAL DRUG COMPENDIA/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: COMPARISON BETWEEN DEVELOPING AND DEVELOPED COUNTRIES/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: GENERAL QUALITY OF INFORMATION/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL DRUGS/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE/PROMOTION AND HEALTH NEEDS: PROMOTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: COMPLIANCE, SANCTIONS, STANDARDS/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION Developing Countries* Drug Utilization Humans Substance-Related Disorders*