Move to coordinate hospital drug services

Dr Winai Sawasdi, the deputy secretary of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) said the office had cooperated with the Food and Drug Administration to improve the drug list for hospitals.

The initiative invites hospi?tals in the same province to improve their drug list - to make it compatible with other hospitals and provide the same quality of drugs to all patients.

"Patients will be pleased with the improved quality of the drug service after hospitals have adjusted their list to the same level. This will make people feel more confident they will get good service and the right drugs at any hospital in their province," Winai said.

The project has been launched in 18 provinces as a pilot programme. They are: Phrae, Lampang, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Chon Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Khon Kaen, Nong Bua Lamphu, Sakhon Nakhon, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, Krabi, Songkhla and Phatthalung.

The ministry will spend a year evaluating the project, and if it succeeds, it will extend it throughout the country.

The ministry believes that if all hospitals have the same drug list, patients can access the same health service in any hospital and be assured of good quality drugs.

Dr Siriwat Tiptaradol, the secretarygeneral of the FDA, said drug management in each province was important to develop the quality of drug serv?ice in each hospital. The plan could eliminate the overlap of treatments including drug pro?vision to patients.

"The FDA is drafting the drug bill under the framework of the 2007 National Health Act to improve patients' confidence in the drug industry within the country and the national drug list. The drug list could reduce the drugstandard problem, control the risk of drug usage and reduce patients' health expenditure," Siriwat said.

by Duangkamon  Sajirawattanakul

The Nation