Browsing by Author "Mahawithanage, S.T."

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    Availability and cost of medicines for treatment of non-communicable diseases in private sector drug outlets in Sri Lanka
    (Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2006) Kasturiratne, A.; Chandratilake, M.N.; Pinidipathirage, M.J.; Jayaratne, G.S.; Mahawithanage, S.T.; Subhashini, K.A.P.; Jayasekara, D.P.A.R.N.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
    BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Sri Lanka. Availability and affordability of medicines to treat them determine patient outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To determine the availability and affordability of common medicines for the management of NCDs in private sector drug outlets in four districts in Sri Lanka. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in randomly selected private pharmacies in Anuradhapura, Colombo, Matara and Monaragala districts. A pre-tested questionnaire administered to pharmacists/dispensers and direct observations were used to obtain availability and prices of drugs for treatment of ischaemic heart diseases, hypertensive diseases, diabetes mellitus, asthma and cancer by trained data collectors
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    Availability of drugs for the treatment of non-communicable diseases in the government health care institutions in Sri Lanka
    (Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2006) Pinidiyapathirage, M.J.; Chandratilake, M.N.; Kasturiratne, A.; Jayaratna, G.S.; Jayasekera, D.P.A.R.N.; Subhasini, K.A.P.; Mahawithanage, S.T.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the availability of commonly used drugs in the treatment of non-communicable diseases in government health care institutions. METHODS: Forty four government health care institutions, representing the 3 levels of health care institutions (level 1 - CD & MH, level 2 - PU, DH, RH, level 3 - BH, GH, PH, TH) were randomly selected from the districts of Colombo, Anuradhapura, Moneragala and Matara. Each of the selected institutions was visited and the availability of a selected list of drugs was ascertained on the day of the visit. Availability was considered satisfactory if the drug was available in at least 75% of institutions of a particular level. RESULTS: Of the drugs that should be available at each level the following results were obtained: Level I -Availability of thiazides, beta-blockers, aspirin and nitrates were satisfactory. Availability of benzathine benzylpenicillin, glibenclamide andprednisolone were unsatisfactory. LevelII- Furosemide, thiazides, nitrates, glibenclamide, metformin andprednisolone were available in all and the availability of methyldopa, nifedipine, beta-blockers and aspirin was satisfactory. Availability of benzathine benzylpenicillin, insulin (isophane/so ruble) and spironolactone were unsatisfactory. Level III - Furosemide, thiazides, metformin, aspirin, beta-blockers, nitrates, nifedipine and prednisolone were available in all while the availability of benzathine benzylpenicillin, captopril, spironolactone, methyldopa, glibenclamide, insulin (isophane/soluble) and timolol eye-drops were satisfactory. Availability of steptokinase, inhalation steroids and salbutamol, ipratropium bromide, losartan, and tamoxifen were unsatisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: Availability of some essential drugs for non-communicable diseases was unsatisfactory at all 3 levels of health care institutions. This may be a reason for patients bypassing smaller institutions and the back referral system not functioning properly in the country. Inadequacy of national stocks cannot by itself explain the non-availability of these drugs as the survey was carried out in July/August.