ArmInfo. Since March 1, 2018, a new order for the dispensing of medicines has come into force in Armenia. At the first stage, the new rules will concern antibiotics, hormonal and codeine preparations, since July 1 - injecting and antitumor drugs, and since October 1 - all other drugs included in the prescription list of the Ministry of Health of Armenia. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Health of Armenia Sergey Khachatryan on February 19 at a press conference.
According to the Deputy Minister, many medications, including antibiotics, have always been related to prescription drugs, which should only be used as prescribed by the doctor. However, to this day, the requirements were not met in full force. Citizens of the country were steadily engaged in self-treatment, and pharmacists, for lack of necessary knowledge and proper institution of responsibility, simply implemented the goods available in the pharmacy. As a result, quite often the most common cold was treated with the strongest antibiotic, which led to greater resistance to a number of antibiotics.
Currently, referring to the world experience, those responsible for the sphere say - the strategy of preventing the spread of antimicrobial resistance - to put the use of antibiotics under strict control. In the pharmacy you need to present a prescription written on the form. The Ministry of Health understands that it is uncomfortable, unusual, takes time. But we must understand: the uncontrolled use of medicines does more harm than good. In addition, thanks to the new order, according to the Ministry of Health, an institution of responsibility is being formed both for the doctor who prescribed the prescription and for the pharmacist who releases the drug.
The list of prescription drugs in Armenia today is wide and includes funds from almost all medicinal groups - about 3470 names of medicines. By the end of the year, 4723 medicines 3632 from the registered in Armenia will be released solely on the prescription of a doctor. Antibiotics - all prescription. The prescription list includes such commonly used drugs as ibuprofen-asteria 400 mg (anti-inflammatory drug), captopril (with 12.5 mg) and nolipreferfort (pressure medication), eutirox (100 ?g), which is taken by the majority of the population.
Whether the preparation is prescription or not, as the head of the Center for Expertise of Drugs and Medical Equipment of the Ministry of Health of Armenia Hakob Topchyan explained, is being resolved in the process of its registration - this is also affected by the dose of the drug. For example, ointments for external use up to 5% can be over-the-counter, and above 5% - prescription. In this issue, according to him, the WHO standards are the guidebook for the Ministry of Health of Armenia. At the same time, as Hakob Topchyan assured, the lists will be revised again, since purely technical inaccuracies are not excluded.
Thus, henceforth it will be impossible to come to the pharmacy and buy LF on the advice of the pharmacist. At the same time, the Ministry of Health does not pursue the goal of promoting or imposing the goods of any firm - the prescription will indicate the active substance of the recommended drug, and already in the pharmacy will offer options in accordance with the financial capabilities of the patient. For chronic patients, recipes are provided for reusable use, which will be issued for a period of 6 months. The shelf life of the recipes used depends on which medicine was prescribed - it can be stored for up to 3 years. Until the end of 2018, will also work "electronic pharmacy", which will have access to both the doctor prescribing the drug, and the pharmacist who releases it. As far as the pharmacies adhere to the established rules, the inspection bodies of the Ministry of Health, including through control purchases, will follow. For the sale of prescription drugs without the relevant documents is facing a fine.
The Armenian Ministry of Health shares the concern that the new regulations will lead to an increase in the flow of citizens to the country's medical facilities. Nevertheless, on the assurance of those responsible, we should not be afraid of clusters and queues, since medical staff of hospitals and polyclinics have already been acquainted with the new requirements. In addition, carrying out a phased transition to the prescription principle of dispensing medicines, the responsible spheres plan to avoid possible congestions and misunderstandings in the system.