The Dispensing Practice Of The Over The Counter Drugs In The Gaza Strip

Abstract

Background There has been no systematic assessment of dispensing practices of over the counter (OTC) drugs in the Gaza Strip. Methods We surveyed a random sample of 127 pharmacists working in public pharmacies in the Gaza Strip using a pre-piloted questionnaire. Results Most pharmacists in the Gaza Strip dispense prescription-only drugs without valid prescriptions. For example, amoxicillin comes second only to paracetamol in a list of twenty two drugs dispensed without prescriptions. Drugs for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus are prescribed less frequently (metformin and amlidopine were dispensed by 16 % and 14 % of pharmacists respectively). Among the many factors for dispensing malpractice, the most important identified by pharmacists were economic competition among pharmacists (77%) and economic difficulties among patients (73%). Three quarters of respondents blamed the Ministry of Health and the Pharmacists' Syndicate for acquiescing in dispensing malpractice. Interpretation Our study has highlighted the importance of cooperation between the Ministry of Health, the Pharmacists' Syndicate and the College of Pharmacy to improve dispensing practice in the Gaza Strip.