[The use of the basic drug chart at the first level of care]

This study presents the analysis of the prescriptions given 2,782 clinical encounters. These clinical encounters were directly observed and recorded by trained observers in 164 health centers of the Federal District and nine states of the Mexican Republic. It was found that 70.9 per cent of the patients received a drug prescription. Sixty per cent of the compounds prescribed did not belong to the basic list of drugs. An strong influence of advertising by medical agents was detected in the use of some poly-drugs. Some specific needs for training and continued education of the physicians in the first level of care.