title: Contribution to the issue of essential drugs in Czechoslovakia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the ratio represented by essential drugs (EDs) in the total consumption of drugs in Czechoslovakia in 1989.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of the assortment and consumption of EDs in 1989.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of the Organization and Management of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bratislava.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consumption of drugs and/or pharmacotherapeutic groups, expressed by the number of formulations, number of units, and in financial terms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EDs constitute approximately one-third of the total consumption of drugs in Czechoslovakia (both in terms of volume and finances); almost 60 percent of EDs have dosage forms and concentrations identical to those shown in the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Drugs (Sixth List).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained indicate that there is need for a regular updating of the drug policy within the public health branch of the government to more effectively regulate the production and import of drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of the Organization and Management of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Kolár
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Foltán
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003604:Czechoslovakia; D016527:Drug Costs; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics; D010602:Pharmacopoeias as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations