[Critical analysis of drugs in 1989]

Changes and trends in the drug field in the world and in Yugoslavia in 1989 are presented and discussed. 1. World. There appeared only a few new drugs all over the world, and new chemical entities (NCE) rather rarely represent a significant contribution to materia medica. Japan is the first in producing NCE (12) followed by United Kingdom and the USA (4 NCE each). 2. Yugoslavia. In Yugoslavia were 125 drugs discussed approval, new dose, new formulation or generic parallel. More than 84% of these have been related to generic or clinical ("me too") parallels; less than 9% of drugs had a certain contribution to materia medica, while, according to the authors, the number of drugs that contributed significantly to the materia medica and of those which should not have been approved was equal (3.2%). Octreotide, erythropoietin, almitrine and flumazenil were placed in category A. Insulin appeared in the largest number of parallels (as many as 19) succeeded by cardiovascular, antimicrobial and gastrointestinal drugs. 3. Drug formularies exist in all the developed countries and represent a way of limiting prescribing. Yugoslav list of drugs expenses of which will be covered by the Health Insurance will be prepared. 4. The Federal Institute for Health Protection through its special committee for diagnostics, pharmacotherapy and side effects represents a useful activity in rationalizing drug use. 5. Yugoslav publication of defined daily doses (DDD) is being prepared. 6. A review of causes of deficient or inadequate drug supply in Yugoslavia, which still represents a major problem in this country, has been given at the end.