Availability and sufficiency of phenobarbital, an essential medication, in Bhutan: a survey of global and neuropsychiatric relevance
Abstract Objective We aimed to provide a reliable evidence-based conclusion around manufacturing, import, availability and sufficiency of one essential medication, phenobarbital (PB) through our example location (Bhutan). The relevant details about manufacturing, import, annual quantity, dose streng...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Research Notes |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3617-x |
| _version_ | 1828526978127364096 |
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| author | Devender Bhalla |
| author_facet | Devender Bhalla |
| author_sort | Devender Bhalla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective We aimed to provide a reliable evidence-based conclusion around manufacturing, import, availability and sufficiency of one essential medication, phenobarbital (PB) through our example location (Bhutan). The relevant details about manufacturing, import, annual quantity, dose strength were obtained. Results There was no local manufacturing of PB and all other anti-seizure medications. A total of 1068 vials of PB 200 mg/mL inj and 489,350 tablets of PB30 mg (i.e. 14.6 kilos) was estimated to annually become available. Of this, 5.3 k (36.3%) was present at the basic health units (BHUs). The PB was absent at 26 (14.7%) BHUs. There was no availability of PB syrup. Treating supposed target of 50.0% of the 20.0% of the prevalent case-load (N = 4523) require 18.1 kilo of PB annually. To conclude, having or not the local manufacturing may or may not be a limitation. There is a need to overcome challenges of inappropriate dose strength, absent pediatric formulation, indirect cost, and low selling price of PB. The possible therapeutic participation of PB in managing disease conditions (like epilepsy) remains limited despite favorable safety and efficacy profile. Strengthening the availability of essential medications is essential to reduce the treatment gap and public health burden of treatable disease conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:32:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c9ca55d915804468915145d788f5e126 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-0500 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:32:33Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Research Notes |
| spelling | doaj.art-c9ca55d915804468915145d788f5e1262022-12-22T00:50:08ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002018-08-011111610.1186/s13104-018-3617-xAvailability and sufficiency of phenobarbital, an essential medication, in Bhutan: a survey of global and neuropsychiatric relevanceDevender Bhalla0Sudan League of epilepsy and Neurology (SLeN)Abstract Objective We aimed to provide a reliable evidence-based conclusion around manufacturing, import, availability and sufficiency of one essential medication, phenobarbital (PB) through our example location (Bhutan). The relevant details about manufacturing, import, annual quantity, dose strength were obtained. Results There was no local manufacturing of PB and all other anti-seizure medications. A total of 1068 vials of PB 200 mg/mL inj and 489,350 tablets of PB30 mg (i.e. 14.6 kilos) was estimated to annually become available. Of this, 5.3 k (36.3%) was present at the basic health units (BHUs). The PB was absent at 26 (14.7%) BHUs. There was no availability of PB syrup. Treating supposed target of 50.0% of the 20.0% of the prevalent case-load (N = 4523) require 18.1 kilo of PB annually. To conclude, having or not the local manufacturing may or may not be a limitation. There is a need to overcome challenges of inappropriate dose strength, absent pediatric formulation, indirect cost, and low selling price of PB. The possible therapeutic participation of PB in managing disease conditions (like epilepsy) remains limited despite favorable safety and efficacy profile. Strengthening the availability of essential medications is essential to reduce the treatment gap and public health burden of treatable disease conditions.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3617-xAnti-epileptic drugsEpilepsyPhenobarbitalTreatment gap |
| spellingShingle | Devender Bhalla Availability and sufficiency of phenobarbital, an essential medication, in Bhutan: a survey of global and neuropsychiatric relevance BMC Research Notes Anti-epileptic drugs Epilepsy Phenobarbital Treatment gap |
| title | Availability and sufficiency of phenobarbital, an essential medication, in Bhutan: a survey of global and neuropsychiatric relevance |
| title_full | Availability and sufficiency of phenobarbital, an essential medication, in Bhutan: a survey of global and neuropsychiatric relevance |
| title_fullStr | Availability and sufficiency of phenobarbital, an essential medication, in Bhutan: a survey of global and neuropsychiatric relevance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Availability and sufficiency of phenobarbital, an essential medication, in Bhutan: a survey of global and neuropsychiatric relevance |
| title_short | Availability and sufficiency of phenobarbital, an essential medication, in Bhutan: a survey of global and neuropsychiatric relevance |
| title_sort | availability and sufficiency of phenobarbital an essential medication in bhutan a survey of global and neuropsychiatric relevance |
| topic | Anti-epileptic drugs Epilepsy Phenobarbital Treatment gap |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3617-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT devenderbhalla availabilityandsufficiencyofphenobarbitalanessentialmedicationinbhutanasurveyofglobalandneuropsychiatricrelevance |