Medicines: rational use of medicines - More than 50% of all
medicines are prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately, and
half of all patients fail to take medicines correctly. - The
overuse, underuse or misuse of medicines harms people and wastes
resources. - More than 50% of all countries do not implement
basic policies to promote rational use of medicines. - In
developing countries, less than 40% of patients in the public
sector and 30% in the private sector are treated according to
clinical guidelines. - A combination of health-care provider
education and supervision, consumer education, and an adequate
medicines supply is effective in improving the use of medicines,
while any of these interventions alone has limited impact.
Rational use of medicines refers to the correct, proper and
appropriate use of medicines. Rational use requires that
patients receive the appropriate medicine, in the proper dose,
for an adequate period of time, and at the lowest cost to them
and their community. Incorrect use of m