Submitted by
Dipin Mani
Gurudas M.P
Deepu Mathew
Guide
Dr. Althaf.A
Dept. of Community Medicine
Medical College, Trivandrum
SUMMARY
Aim of the study: To find the availability and affordability of drugs in Medical College Hospital, Trivandrum, as estimated by a study done on patients during the first 24 hours of admission to the Medicine Casualty.
Research design and methods: We designed a case series study for patients admitted to Medicine Casualty during a month period. The drugs prescribed were recorded from the case book. The availability and cost of drugs were recorded by interviewing the by-standers. The proportion of drugs available in the hospital is calculated. The proportion of essential drugs available in the hospital too is calculated separately. The monthly income of the patient is recorded and affordability of drug purchase is estimated by comparing with the monthly income.
Results: The total number of cases in the study was 100. The proportion of patients having to purchase drugs from outside pharmacies during the first 24 hours following admission was 90%. The proportion of drugs prescribed which has to be purchased from outside pharmacies was 54.97%. The proportion of essential drugs prescribed which has to be purchased from outside pharmacies was 43.33%. The affordability of drug purchase from outside paharmacies: taking the average, 3 days’ wages has to be spent for a day’s treatment.
Conclusion: The availability of drugs in Trivandrum Medical College Hospital (45.03%) is extremely low. The availability of essential drugs (56.77%) too is poor. 90% of the patients requiring drug purchase from outside pharmacies infers that drugs are unavailable for the most common medical emergencies as well. 10 days’ wage spent for purchasing drugs just for 24 hour treatment infers the heavy burden on the patients.