AIM To descriptively analyze the policy environment surrounding the Polish generic medicines retail market. METHOD The policy analysis was based on an international literature review. Also, a simulation exercise was carried out to compute potential savings from substituting generic for originator medicines in Poland using IMS Health pharmaceutical intelligence data. RESULTS Poland has a mat...

OBJECTIVE To explore the quality and safety of medicines in Canada. DESIGN A retrospective review of drug recalls and risk communication documents conveying issues relating to defective (ie, substandard and falsified) medicines. SETTING The Health Canada website search for drug recalls and risk communication documents issued between 2005 and 2013. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Drug recalls and ris...

OBJECTIVE To analyze the profile of claimants and medicines demanded in lawsuits. METHODS Descriptive study that examined 827 lawsuits with 1,777 demands of access to medicines in the period between July 2005 and June 2006 in the state of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. There were examined the type of health care provided to claimants and their attorneyship. The medicines were described ba...

The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the pharmacist's views on self-medication, their perceptions of advertisements for OTC medicines, and their knowledge and awareness of people that purchase OTC medicines. The data were gathered in Hungarian pharmacies with questionnaires distributed as inserts in two trade journals--Gyógyszertár and Pirulatrend. The questionnaires dealt wit...

BACKGROUND General practitioners may consider prescribing medicines for breastfeeding women during the postpartum period. Most medicines can be used safely during breastfeeding at the recommended dose, however there are exceptions that necessitate caution. OBJECTIVE This article provides an evidence based review of medicines used for common situations and their compatibility with breastfeedin...

BACKGROUND Medicines are kept in households Worldwide for first aid, treatment of chronic or acute disease conditions. This promotes inappropriate use of medicines and hence the associated risks. The study explored the factors which predict availability and utilization of medicines in households of Northern Uganda. METHOD A cross sectional survey of 892 households was performed from November-...

     The effectiveness of any drug supply systems in providing a trustworthy supply of essential drugs is a critical issue. To evaluate this effectiveness, it is necessary to watch over the status of the essential medicines in any country impartially and continuously. Some countries and also the World Health Organization (WHO) have codified a list of minimum medicines needed for a basic health ...

- Determining people trend to herbal medicine consumption since 10 years ago. - Numbers of drugstores which directly prescribe herbal medicines. - Numbers of prescriptions which contain herbal medicine as a medicinal item. - Awareness of medical and pharmaceutical students on herbal medicine. - Supply sources of herbal medicines for drugstores. - Herbal medicine problems in relation to prescrip...

- Determining people trend to herbal medicine consumption since 10 years ago. - Numbers of drugstores which directly prescribe herbal medicines. - Numbers of prescriptions which contain herbal medicine as a medicinal item. - Awareness of medical and pharmaceutical students on herbal medicine. - Supply sources of herbal medicines for drugstores. - Herbal medicine problems in relation to prescrip...

BACKGROUND Household surveys are crucial to get accurate information on how medicines are acquired, and used by consumers, as they provide the best evidence in the area. The objective of this study was to document household medicine storage practices in Gondar town, northwestern Ethiopia. METHODS A cross-sectional household survey was conducted from April 5 to May 6, 2015. In the study, 809 h...