Ensuring Rational Drug Use in the Context of Primary Health Care

I ho provision nl" essential drugs is onlv one element of a comprehensive primary heallh eare iPIK'i svsteni. Although Health Action International •:H\I:< \MHKS 11:.. s 11 \ iir'. drug related problems, a J^vs nui. Ivliovc lh.il fie provision ul drills is the most important element til" PHC\ hi fact, any mention nl the rational use of essential drugs is ivmarkabl} absent from (lie P>78 Alma Ata Declaration on PI1C the issue is only dealt with in Point 14 ol ilie detailed recommendations. Declarations ul this son tend to hecome set in stone, h is not normally possible to add amendments alter the benefit ul experience. One of the most important lessons of the last ten years is that we cannot assume that essential drills.once available, will automatically he used rationally.and 1 hat inessential drugs will then magically lade from the scene. The provision of essential drugs has io he accompanied hy measures, at all levels of the health eare system, lo encourage and promote the rational use of drugs anil to discourage irrational use.