Prescription patterns analysis--variations among Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina

The objective of the study is analysis of the prescription patterns in Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina (BiH). The study discusses the relevance between prescription and morbidity and the rationality of the drug prescription in terms of Essential Drug Concept (EDC). For the assessment of the morbidity influence on the prescription official statistical information was reviewed and prevailing causes of diseases in the observed countries were calculated. To study the patterns geographically selected regions from the countries under consideration were observed during 1998-2000. In all the countries under consideration respiratory tract, nervous system and cardiovascular diseases are playing the leading role. The prescription of cardiovascular drugs, anti-infectious nervous and respiratory system drugs also predominate. Comparison between prescription and morbidity patterns shows a significant relationship between the morbidity and prescription patterns. Prescription matches the morbidity requirements for the prevailing diseases. The proportion of the essential drug prescribing is higher in countries with officially adopted national EDL as Romania and BiH. No policy promoting rational drug prescription exists and countries use different indicators for the combinations, injections and drugs prescribed per prescription.