Do Private Health Institutions Prescribe Drugs more Irratioinally than the Publics? A Year Long Comparative Evaluation of Prescribing Indecators, Wolkite Town, South West Ethiopia

Background: There is no drug use study done in the private health sector in Ethiopia despite the fact that significant section of the population is getting health service in these facilities. Even the drug use studies in the primary public health sector in Ethiopia are rare and out dated. Objective: To evaluate the drug prescribing pattern in private and public health facilities in Wolkite town, South West Ethiopia. Methods: Total patient records of 600 were evaluated retrospectively using the World health organization drug prescribing indicators from January 1 to December 31, 2011, in 11 private and public health facilities, Wolkite town, South West Ethiopia. Results: One thousand two hundred twenty seven drugs were prescribed for 600 patient encounters making the average number of drugs per encounter 2.05+ 1.01 (private=2.33, public= 1.89). Percentage of drugs prescribed from the essential drug list of Ethiopia accounted 97% (N= 1189) whereas the percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was 92% (N= 1130). About 63 % (N=376) and 23 % (N= 137) of encounters received antibiotics and injection, respectively, in the health facilities. Conclusion: Much remains to be done to promote rational prescribing of drugs in primary health care facilities.