title: A national database for essential drugs in South Africa.
abstract: In the process of drafting standard treatment guidelines for adults and children at hospital level, the Secretariat of the National Essential Drugs List Committee made use of a database designed with technical support from the School of Pharmacy, MEDUNSA. The database links the current 697 drugs on the Essential Drugs List with Standard Treatment Guidelines for over 400 conditions. It served to streamline the inclusion of different drugs and dosage forms in the various guidelines, and provided concise, updated information to other departments involved in drug procurement. From information on drug prices and morbidity, it can also be used to calculate drug consumption and cost estimates and compare them with actual figures.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA).
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zweygarth
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Summers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003628:Database Management Systems; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004346:Drug Information Services; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations