Kerala State Drug Formulary.pdf

PREFACE
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SECOND EDITION OF KERALA STATE DRUG FORMULARY APRIL 2009
The need for a drug formulary and practice guidelines for its health
care personnel working in the various hospitals and other health care
related institutions in Kerala State has been recognized by the Government
as early as 1997 and the first edition of the Drug Formulary was published in
the year 1999 (April).
This book was distributed to the various hospitals for use by the
doctors and paramedics. It is now 10 years since the first edition was
published. It has served its purpose in a limited way by acting as a reliable
source of ready reference when facing medical emergencies. It also
contained sections dealing with the directions for maintaining drug stocks
in different level hospitals based on morbidity patterns prevailing then,
and the prescribing practices of the doctors. Part II of this book gives the
emergency management of several diseases and indications regarding further
management had also been added.
The Government desired to publish the second edition of the Kerala
State Drug Formulary before the end of this financial year. A committee was
formed at the Directorate of Medical Education to update the existing
drug formulary. This second edition is the result of the effort of this
committee which met repeatedly to complete the task assigned to it.
Part I deals with the essential details of common drugs used by
doctors in the State, with particular emphasis on the essential drug list
formulated by the Government of India. Unbiased drug information is given.
The cost factor of drugs with similar action has been given to enable the
doctor to manage the patients cost effectively. Section 19 gives information
on vaccines and immunoglobulins.Part II dealing with the primary
management of medical emergencies has been trimmed to contain only
the emergencies. Elective Management of several diseases has been removed
since the Kerala Government is in the process of publishing a treatment
Guideline Manual, which will contain the management guidelines for most
of the diseases - both acute and chronic. Part III A contains list of Essential
drugs to be stocked at different levels in Government hospitals. Part III B
gives the details of the National Programmes formulated by the Government
of India and implemented through the State Governments.
Acknowledgement: The Central Drug Formulary Committee headed by