Keywords
Citation
(2012), "Saudi Arabia - Health minister launches formulary", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 25 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2012.06225faa.013
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Saudi Arabia - Health minister launches formulary
Article Type: News and views From: International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Volume 25, Issue 6
Keywords: Dispensing formulary development, Cost effective healthcare, Prescribing protocols
Health Minister Dr Abdullah Al-Rabeeah launched a formulary yesterday to help pharmacists and physicians prescribe and dispense the right medication to patients in the Kingdom.
“This will be an ideal manual for those concerned in prescribing and dispensing medicine to patients in the Kingdom,” Al-Rabeeah said in Riyadh, following the launch at the Health Ministry headquarters.
He also said the entire text of the formulary would be available on the ministry’s web site and hard copies made available for both pharmacists and physicians.
A formulary is a list of medicines that contains a collection of formulas for the compounding and testing of medication. The main function of formularies is to specify which medicines are approved to be prescribed under a particular contract.
The development of formularies is based on evaluations of efficacy, safety, and cost effectiveness of drugs. It also contains additional clinical information, such as side effects, contraindications and doses.
The minister said the formulary has been prepared by his ministry in order to fulfill an objective to offer the best health care services to people in the Kingdom. The minister also thanked all those instrumental in the publication.
Advisor to the minister of health Dr Saleh Al-Mazrou said this is a maiden effort to help health providers as well as patients. He said the formulary was prepared by a special committee comprising members of preventive, curative, and rehabilitative departments in the ministry. Al-Mazrou, the general supervisor of medical supplies and equipment, was also the chairman of the committee.
Al-Mazrou explained the manual would also have a soft copy in the form of a CD for pharmacists and physicians’ quick reference.
He pointed out the maiden version includes data such as code numbers, list of medicines and their uses, availability, health centers, a list of medicines for hospitals and a list of medications that require special authorization for sale.
Health Ministry Spokesman Dr Khalid Al-Mirghalani told Arab News that this is good news for all health providers, who will mostly benefit from this publication.
For more information: www.arabnews.com