Essential Drug List in a Rural Hospital

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Abstract
An essential drug list was introduced to Gidole Hospital (Gamu Gofa Region, southwestern Ethiopia) in 1980. This study considers whether the introduction of the essential drug list improved drug prescription. Drug usage by admitted patients was examined retrospectively by drawing samples from two one-year periods (1979 and 1983/84). This study demonstrates that a change in drug prescription occurred: a significant decrease of non-essential and placebo drugs as well as vitamin injection was achieved. Oral rehydration solution (ORS) became the main treatment for diarrhoeal diseases, while other “diarrhoeal drugs” (8-hydroxyquinolines, bismuth opium and sulphaguanidine) were no longer used. Multidrug use was significantly reduced. It is concluded that the introduction of local drug lists creates an increased awareness of rational drug prescription.