AEDs availability and professional practices in delivery outlets in a city center in southern Vietnam.
In developing countries, from 80 to 90% of the people with active epilepsy do not have access to treatment. A multitude of factors such as nonavailability of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) contributes to the treatment gap in epilepsy. Our study carried out in 2003 in southern Vietnam showed that 57% of pharmacies had AEDs. A majority of these pharmacies were located in specific areas like market area or hospital area. The pharmacist in charge was present in only 24% of the pharmacies. The different kinds of AEDs available were carbamazepine (94%), phenytoin (61%), valproate (56%) and diazepam (16%). The maximum stock of a drug was two box. The availability of AEDs in southern Vietnam can be regarded as sufficient but does not allow an adequate treatment for a long time. An effort must be made to sensitize professional health workers to decrease the treatment gap in epilepsy.
Mac
Tu Luong
TL
Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology (EA3174), School of Medicine, 2 rue du Docteur Marcland, 87025 Limoges Cedex, France.
Le
Van Tuan
VT
Vu
Anh Nhi
AN
Preux
Pierre-Marie
PM
Ratsimbazafy
Voa
V
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016527:Drug Costs; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000592:standards; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000592:standards*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology
D000927:Anticonvulsants