[Supply of essential drugs in units specialized in the treatment of chronic diseases in Mexico in 2012].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To quantify the supply of essential drugs and the fully filled-in prescription level in the Units Specialized in the Treatment of Chronic Diseases (UNEMES-EC) in Mexico.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The supply and prescription indicators were measured in 30 of the 86 existing UNEMES-EC. The supply of drugs was recorded using a list of 17 essential drugs related to the treatment of diabetes, hypertension, overweight and obesity. The information on fully filled-in prescriptions was obtained through a questionnaire applied to 1 200 health care users.

RESULTS:

Only 13.3% of these units showed a complete supply of the 17 essential drugs: Supply levels were higher in units with external drugstore service. 35% of the interviewed patients reported out-of-pocket expenditures in medicines.

CONCLUSION:

UNEMES-EC should improve their levels of drug supply and fully filled-in prescriptions to reduce out-of-pocket expenditures.

• Authors: David Contreras-Loya, Arturo Reding-Bernal, Octavio Gómez-Dantés, Esteban Puentes-Rosas, Dayana Pineda-Pérez, Manuel Castro-Tinoco, Francisco Garrido-Latorre
• Journal: Salud publica de Mexico (Salud Publica Mex) Vol. 55 Issue 6 Pg. 618-26 (Dec 2013) ISSN: 1606-7916 [Electronic] Mexico
• Vernacular Title: Abasto y surtimiento de medicamentos en unidades especializadas en la atención de enfermedades crónicas en México en 2012.
• PMID: 24715014 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Drugs, Essential

Topics

• Chronic Disease (drug therapy)
• Drug Prescriptions (statistics & numerical data)
• Drugs, Essential (supply & distribution)
• Humans
• Mexico