Background. The study aimed to evaluate inpatient antibiotic use in both the State Second Hospital and State Third Hospital in Mongolia, using the WHO developed and standardized ATC/DDD methodology. Methods. Data were collected from the State Second Hospital and State Third Hospital which are major public hospitals that provide health care for approximately one fifth of the Mongolian population. Antibiotic utilization was monitored retrospectively for five years (2013–2017) using the ATC/DDD methodology and data were presented in DDD/ admission and DDD/100 bed days. Statistical analysis was performed using a Student’s t-test for parametric data. A P value of ≤0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results. The annual consumption rates in the State Second Hospital were stable over time while in the State Third Hospital consumption rates varied considerately between years. Overall, the total antibiotic consumption rate was very high, but has decreased in both hospitals. The rate of consumption of all antibiotics was approximately twice that in the State Third Hospital (421.7 DDD/100 bed days) between 2013 and 2017 when compared with the State Second Hospital (199.7 DDD/ 100 bed days), P<0.001). The seven most frequently used antibiotics comprised approximately 75% of all DDDs in both hospitals, in the period 2013–2017; being: amoxicillin, cefazolin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and nitroxoline. However, this was not consistent when considering the individual years, since in 2015 and 2016, these seven active agents represented approximately 50%. Conclusion. This is the first hospital-based study of antibiotic consumption rates reported in Mongolia. In addition to very high consumption rates, large differences occurred between the hospitals investigated. Inappropriate and high levels of antibiotic use lead to increased costs and also increased nosocomial infection rates with potentially resistant species. The Government and health professionals need to take more active roles in improving and promoting quality antibiotic use among inpatients.

Recently, a trend has developed towards employing certain herbal medicines to manage hepatotoxicity. The present study is that of an assessment of the efficacy of a herbal preparation of Salivin (HPS), a combination of the herbs of Saussurea amara (L.)DC., Salsola collina Pall., Achillea asiatica Serg. and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, in rabbit models, against CCl4-induced hepatic damage. In so doing, an extract of HPS (200 mg/kg body weight/day), along with reference control tablets of Carsil (Silymarin 35 mg) (250 mg/kg body weight/day) (which is known for its hepatoprotective effects) were administered, along with the standard diet. The experimental group of rabbits received HPS orally for 28 days, which resulted in a decrease in blood enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase), compared to the control. Evidenced by biochemical and histopathological studies, it is concluded that the polyherbal formulation HPS showed hepatoprotective activity against induced CCl4 hepatotoxicity in rabbits.

The first official training of pharmacy technicians started in 1926 in Mongolia and pharmacy technicians were the only national pharmaceutical staff till the first national pharmacist graduated in 1954. Pharmacy technicians have played a valuable role in pharmaceutical care and service in Mongolia for the last century, which is still maintained nowadays. As of June 2022, one public university and one private medical institute implemented a pharmacy technician curriculum in Mongolia, and 512 pharmacy technicians had graduated in 2016-2020. Graduated pharmacy technicians are eligible to work in a community pharmacy, hospital, or pharmaceutical industry after being registered. They can also further their studies to get a B. Pharm. degree with an additional three years of training. As of 2020, a total of 2009 pharmacy technicians worked in Mongolia, 807 of them were employed in Ulaanbaatar and 1556 pharmacy technicians worked in the community pharmacies.