Drug prescription in Italy.
Drug use in Italy in the period 1983-1991 has been analysed. The twenty most used substances accounted for about 20% of the sold packages. The effect of marketing of new drugs is worth noting: new and more expensive drugs are preferred even when effective, safe and less expensive alternatives are available. Prescribers have to face a highly dynamic pharmaceutical market in which 30% of substances (among the 300 most sold) changes every five years. Other than a more rational formulary, independent information and continuing education have to be considered as tools to improve a more rational prescribing.
Maggini
M
M
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Istituto Superiore, di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Raschetti
R
R
Traversa
G
G
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000592:standards; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000592:standards; D007558:Italy; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000592:standards; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing