manual on management of drugs

3.The expenditure on drugs has been increasing each year because of the
increased demand for better services, escalating unit cost on drugs, changing
pattern of morbidity (heart diseases, cancer, diabetes) and the like. At the
same time the efficient use of the available drugs is seen to receive some
setbacks. Some of the reasons are over-prescribing, pilferage and wastage.
4.While the Government is committed to the provision of drugs free to all the
clientele, there is an urgent need on the part of all officials in the health
system responsible for procuring, distributing, storing, prescribing and
dispensing whether at national, provincial, regional or institutional level, to
imbibe a sense of economy and effectiveness to the management of drugs.
5.In this context this <strong>manual</strong> describes certain processes and procedures to be
strictly adhered to by all concerned, to preserve the quality and ensure the
efficacy and safety of the drugs used in order to enable the patients to receive
a greater benefit at a given cost. In developing this <strong>manual</strong> all the existing
rules, regulations and procedures with regard to management of drugs issued
from time to time as departmental circulars, guidelines etc. have been
reviewed, revised and simplified. In addition an educational approach is used
with a view to ensuring that the contents are well understood and easily
amenable to practice by all the staff involved in the drug management system.
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