Essential drug – This book covers the entire syllabus of “Pharmacology” prescribed by BNMC- for diploma in nursing science & midwifery students. We tried to accommodate the latest information and topics. This book is an examination set up according to the teachers’ lectures and examination questions.
At the end of the book, previous questions are given. We hope in touch with the book students’ knowledge will be upgraded and flourish. The unique way of presentation may make your reading of the book a pleasurable experience.
Essential drug
Essential Medicines (Drugs) Concept
The WHO has defined Essential Medicines (drugs) as “those that satisfy the priority healthcare needs of the population. They are selected with due regard to public health relevance, evidence on efficacy and safety, and comparative cost effectiveness.
Essential medicines are intended to be available within the context of functioning health systems at all times and in adequate amounts, in appropriate dosage forms, with assured quality and adequate information, and at a price the individual and the community can afford”.
Selection Criteria of Essential Drug:
The WHO has laid down criteria to guide selection of an essential medicine.
1. Adequate data on its efficacy and safety should be available from clinical studies.
2. It should be available in a form in which quality, including bioavailability, and stability on storage can be assured.
3. Its choice should depend upon pattern of prevalent diseases; availability of facilities and trained personnel; financial resources; genetic, demographic and environmental factors.
4. In case of two or more similar medicines, choice should be made on the basis of their relative efficacy, safety, quality, price and availability. Cost-benefit ratio should be a major consideration.
5. Choice may also be influenced by comparative pharmacokinetic properties and local facilities for manufacture and storage.
6. Most essential medicines should be single compounds.
7. Fixed ratio combination products should be included only when dosage of each ingredient meets the requirements of a defined population group, and when the combination has a proven advantage in therapeutic effect, safety, and adherence or in decreasing the emergence of drug resistance.
8. Selection of essential medicines should be a continuous process which should take into account the changing priorities for public health action, epidemiological conditions as well as availability of better medicines/formulations and progress in pharmacological knowledge.
9. Recently, it has been emphasized to select essential medicines based on rationally developed treatment guidelines.
Importance
It forms the basis of national drug policy. Serves as a guideline for public and private health care to nationalize the pharmacological situation. Based on SANE criteria.
S = Safety
A = Affordability
N = Need
E=Efficacy
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