Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111791

Dima Qato, PharmD, MPH, International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 North wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21210, 4438585276, dqato@jhsph.edu and Maggie Huff-Rousselle, MA, MBA, International Health, Social Sectors Development Strategies, Inc, 464 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA 02118.

While many countries, including Jordan, have essential drug lists and are interested in ensuring availability and access to drugs, the adequate use of drugs remains a low healthcare priority. To understand the drug use situation in Jordan, a questionnaire-based survey of private pharmacies (pharmacists and pharmacy consumers) was undertaken in May 2003. A sample of twenty volunteer pharmacies were selected from the peri-urban communities of Amman, Jordan in which 150 pharmacy consumers(any age or gender) who sought to purchase medicines with or without a prescription were included in the study. While the results show variations associated with SES, the findings indicate that pharmacist role is most crucial in the poorest communities where patients often inappropriately self-medicate and pharmacists almost exclusively dispense without prescriptions. Also, the misuse of antibiotics and chronic disease medications was also common, as they are often taken at the onset of symptoms and not as prescribed. Eventhough the Jordanian Ministry of Health (MOH) has published its Essential Drug List along with a National Drug Formulary in 2002, according to an evaluation of Jordan's Pharmaceautical Sector conducted in July 2004, they have failed to effectively influence the use of pharmaceuticals in the country as indicated by this study, therefore a rational drug strategy for the Country is imperative with the role of the pharmacist integral. This paper attempts to forge an understanding of the role of pharmacists and pharmaceuticals in communities in Jordan in order for effective policy recommendations and interventions be implemented to promote the appropriate use of medicines and protect public health.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the drug use situation in communities in Jordan and identify problems the endanger public health.
• Understand the role of the pharmacist in promoting the appropriate use of medicines in the community based on preliminary finds of common problems community encounters. 3 Implications of a Rational Drug Strategy and Pharmaceutical care in protecting the public health

Keywords: Pharmacies, Prescription Drug Use Patterns

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.