Drug utilisation patterns in Zabljak municipality, Serbia and Montenegro

Background Information about drug utilisation among outpatients in Serbia and Montenegro is scanty, and no publications on the topic are available. The objective of this study was thus to evaluate and compare patterns of drug utilisation in the Zabljak municipality.Methods Prescriptions for outpatients (n=456) and dispensing records from a local pharmacy in Zabljak for a three- month period were reviewed retrospectively.Results The leading diagnoses were infectious diseases of the respiratory system and hypertension. The total number of defined daily doses (DDD) per 1 000 inhabitants per day was 178.75. Cardiovascular drugs (41.139 DDD/1 000/day), drugs for the gastrointestinal system (36.881 DDD/1 000/day) and antibacterial drugs (18.318 DDD/1 000/day) were the most frequently prescribed drugs.Conclusion The total number of drugs utilised per 1 000 inhabitants per day was within the acceptable range. However, the pattern of diagnosis did not correspond to the pattern of drug utilisation. There is a need for intervention in order to promote the rational selection and use of drugs among outpatients in Serbia and Montenegro.