Year: 2026 | Month: April-June | Volume: 11 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 71-77
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijshr.20260209
Assessment of WHO Prescribing Indicators and Utilization Trends of Fixed Drug Combinations, Corticosteroids and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in General Medicine Department at a Tertiary Care Centre in Uttarakhand
Libin Sanjeev Leonson1, Shikha Dwivedi2, Prateek Chaudhary3, Annwesha Chaudhury4, Rakshanda Doomra5, Ayush Jain6
1Department of Pharmacology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical & Health Sciences, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
2Department of Pharmacology, Government Doon Medical College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
3Department of Pharmacology, Government Doon Medical College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
4Department of Pharmacology, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
5Department of Pharmacology, Government Doon Medical College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
6Department of Pharmacology, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Corresponding Author: Prateek Chaudhary
ABSTRACT
Background: While rational prescribing is crucial for effective and safe healthcare delivery, irrational prescription practices remain a significant challenge in India. High patient volumes in Internal Medicine outpatient departments (OPDs) often exacerbate drug supply shortages and increase the clinical and financial burden of inappropriate prescribing.
Objective: This study aimed to conduct a prescription audit in the Department of General Medicine at a tertiary care center in Uttarakhand to evaluate World Health Organization (WHO) core prescribing indicators and assess the utilization trends of Fixed-Dose Combinations (FDCs), corticosteroids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Methods: An observational, cross-sectional prescription audit was conducted over a three-month period. Using convenience sampling, 618 prescriptions issued by general medicine practitioners for outpatients were analyzed. Data encompassing patient demographics and prescribed medications were collected and evaluated using descriptive statistics.
Results: Out of 618 prescriptions, endocrine disorders, predominantly diabetes (23.20%), were the most frequent indications. Assessment of WHO core indicators revealed an average of 4.10 drugs per encounter, highlighting a tendency toward polypharmacy. Only 29.22% of medications were prescribed by their generic names, and 77.27% were selected from the Essential Medicines List. Antimicrobial agents were prescribed in 29.87% of encounters, while injections were utilized in just 1.30%. Additionally, a high burden of FDCs (72.08%) and NSAIDs (37.01%) was observed, with corticosteroids present in 7.79% of the prescriptions.
Conclusion: The prescribing patterns observed in this study reveal significant deviations from WHO optimal standards, particularly regarding polypharmacy, low rates of generic prescribing, and the heavy utilization of antibiotics and FDCs. Implementing regular prescription audits and continuous medical education is vital for promoting rational drug use, reducing healthcare costs, and mitigating antimicrobial resistance.
Keywords: Inappropriate Prescribing, Polypharmacy, Drug Utilization Study, Outpatient Clinics, Hospital