Background: Essential medicines play an important role in the primary health care program. At least one third of the world’s population has no regular access to these medicines. The availibility and price are two of factors affecting access to essential medicines. Objective: To analyse the availability and the price of essential medicines in the city and some districts of Thua Thien Hue Province. Methods: Using the WHO/ HAI methodology. Results: The originator brand drugs were less available as compared to the lowest price generics. Median availability of originator brand drugs and lowest price generics were 0.0% and 40.0% in public sector. Similarily, these values were respectively 20.0% and 53.3% in private sector, 0.0% and 50.0% in other sector. The median MPRs of innovator drugs was 9.26 and 14.00 for private and other sector respectively while that of generic equivalent versions was 0.68 for public sector, 1.88 for private sector and 1.54 for other sector. Conclusion: The avalibility of originator products was lower than that of lowest price generics. Although the median price of originator brand drugs was much higher than the international reference prices, generic price was almost reasonable. The availibilty as well as the median MPRs figure for the private sector was higher than that for the public sector and other sector. Key words: Medicine prices, availability, essential medicines, WHO/HAI methodology, median price ratio (MPR)
Background: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has been increasing significantly in the world as well as in Viet Nam. DM is a serious and complex chronic disease that affects the physical health of the patients and lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Objectives: (1) To analyze the HRQoL in DM outpatients at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital. (2) To evaluate the associated factorsin outpatients with DM. Materials and method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 253 outpatients at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital. EuroQoL-5 dimension-5 level (EQ-5D-5L) scale was used for the assessment of HRQoL. Results: The median of the EQ-5D index was 0.85(interquartile range (IQR) = 0.28). The mean of EQ-VAS score was 64.07 (SD=16.99). Aging was associated with lower HRQoL. Unemployed participants had the lowest HRQoL index compared to workers. Higher educational levels led to higher HRQoL. Patients withDM duration of over 10 years had lower HRQoL index than the other groups. Conclusion: The median of the EQ-5D index was 0.85 (IQR = 0.28). The mean of EQ-VAS score was 64.07 (SD=16.99). The HRQoL in diabetic patients was associated with age, occupation, level of education and DM duration. Key words: EQ-5D-5L, quality of life, diabetes mellitus.
Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways with increasing prevalence worldwide, becoming a burden for the healthcare system. Currently, inhaled therapy is the mainstay of asthma treatment. Factors associated with the incorrect use of inhalers were lack of knowledge or false beliefs. Incorrect inhalation techniques are the most common reasons that lead to uncontrolled asthma and treatment failure. Objectives: (1) To survey the knowledge and attitude of asthmatic outpatients towards asthma disease, treatment medicines and inhaler use. (2) To assess the patient’s practical skills in inhalation technique. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on asthmatic outpatients treated at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy hospital from March 2022 to April 2022. Results and conclusions: A total of 102 asthmatic patients were enrolled in the study. The proportion of males accounted for 62.7%. The mean age of patients was 59.2 ± 15.4. Regarding knowledge assessment, 31.4% of the patients had good knowledge of diseases and inhalers. Regarding that attitude, 24.5% of patients had a good attitude towards the disease and inhalers. The percentage of patients showing good practical skills in metered dose inhaler use (MDI) and dry powder inhaler (DPI) - Turbuhaler was 54.5%, DPI - Accuhaler was 66.7%. Key words: bronchial asthma, inhalers, metered dose inhaler, dry powder inhaler
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