Background: Drug utilization studies are used to analyze different aspects of the use of drugs and to implement methods of improving therapeutic quality. This study was conducted to study drug prescription pattern in Medicine Outpatient Department (OPD) in Ashwini Rural Medical College, Kumbhari. Methods: Six hundred prescriptions were screened & analyzed as per the study parameters at Medicine OPD of Ashwini Rural Medical College, Kumbhari. Study parameters like demographic profile of the patient like age, sex and diagnosis were recorded. Doctor details and patient details like age, sex and address were analyzed. Also, groups of drugs commonly prescribed, number of drugs per patient, drug profile and drawbacks of prescription if any were recorded and analyzed. Results: Most common group of drugs prescribed by physicians were Analgesics (21.84%), followed by Drugs for Peptic ulcer (17.92%) and Multivitamins/multimineral (14.70%). The average number of drugs prescribed per patient was 2.38. The incidence of Polypharmacy was common occurrence and some prescriptions had small drawbacks like absence of diagnosis, absence of doctor's signature, etc. Conclusions: Authors conclude that most of the prescriptions which were analyzed at Ashwini Rural Medical College Hospital, Kumbhari, were according to the standard norms of WHO prescriptions and also most of the drugs prescribed were from the list of essential drug list. But still there is scope for improvement in prescription pattern.

Tuberculosis is a major health problem afflicting the world, especially the third world countries. Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is defined as the disease caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis resistant to at least Isoniazid & Rifampicin , with or without resistance to other anti-TB drugs. Contrary to earlier belief, multi-drug resistant Mycobacteria have proved to be as infectious as drug susceptible ones & can cause severe disease. Erratic prescribing by physicians & patient non-adherence to the treatment regimens are the major causes leading to the emergence of MDR-TB. World Health Organization (WHO) has issued guidelines for the management of MDR-TB. The regimens for the treatment of MDR-TB are designed according to the availability / unavailability of drug susceptibility test results. Second line anti-Tuberculosis (anti-TB) drugs & the newer agents have vital role in treatment of MDR-TB. Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) is strongly recommended for all anti-TB regimens. In general, the treatment of MD R-TB is costlier, less effective & more toxic as compared to treatment of drug susceptible Tuberculosis. In last few years there has been increased incidence of what has been described as 'Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB). A WHO consultation in held in March 2012 has come up with the diagnostic definition and various treatment options for the management of Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB).

Background: Drug utilization studies should be regularly conducted to increase therapeutic efficacy, decrease adverse effects and provide feedback to prescribers to promote the rational use of drugs. Systematic audit of prescriptions in Surgery Outpatient Department are very few in India. This study was conducted to study drug prescription pattern in Surgery Outpatient Department (OPD) in Ashwini Rural Medical College, Kumbhari.Methods: Six hundred prescriptions were screened and analyzed as per the study parameters at Surgery OPD of Ashwini Rural Medical College, Kumbhari. Study parameters like demographic profile of the patient like age, sex and diagnosis were recorded. Also groups of drugs commonly prescribed, number of drugs per patient, drug profile and drawbacks of prescription if any were recorded and analyzed. The percentage of the drugs prescribed by generic names and from the essential drug list was calculated.Results: Most common group of drugs prescribed by physicians were drugs for peptic ulcer (27.26%), followed by antimicrobials (20.89%). The average number of drugs prescribed per patient was 2.98. Drug prescription by generic name was low (8.82%). The incidence of polypharmacy was common occurrence and some prescriptions had small drawbacks like absence of diagnosis, absence of doctor’s signature, absence of patient age etc.Conclusions: Prescribing by generic name and from the essential drug lists should be encouraged. Training sessions on the correct method of writing prescriptions are needed.