[Experience in rationalization and use of drugs in military primary health care]

We describe a pharmacologic revision program in a military primary health-care facility, following the criteria of efficacy and safety proposed in the Spanish "Pharmacological guide for primary health care". After the revision, the number of products used dropped from 133 to 63, and the monthly expenditure in medicines from 940 to 300 pesetas/person. We have also calculated the daily defined dose per 1.000 inhabitants/day (DHD) in some drugs and compared them to others previously published. Some of our DHD were higher than those of other primary-health care groups. Therefore, we think that in rationalization programs on the use of medicines, the reduction of products to be prescribed is only the first part. Afterwards, DHD should be calculated, and, in case of being unjustifiably high, a revision of the indications should be undertaken.