Open AccessEffect of prescribed minimum benefits on the prevalence of possible drug‐drug interactions of antiretroviral agents in a section of the private health care sector in South Africa: a 2 year comparative study
Author(s) -
KatendeKyenda Norah L.,
Lubbe Martie S.,
Serfontein Jan H.P.,
Truter Ilse
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international journal of pharmacy practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.42
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 2042-7174
pISSN - 0961-7671
DOI - 10.1211/ijpp.16.6.0010
Subject(s) - medicine , medical prescription , antiretroviral drug , drug , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , family medicine , private sector , health care , environmental health , antiretroviral therapy , pharmacology , viral load , economic growth , economics
Objective The aim of this study was to determine the impact of prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) after implementation, on the prevalence of possible drug‐drug interactions (DDIs) between antiretrovirals (ARVs) themselves and other drugs on prescriptions claimed in a section of the private health care sector in South Africa. Setting A section of the private health care sector in South Africa. Method A comparative, retrospective drug‐utilisation study was performed using 2004 and 2005 data from a medicine claims database. Possible DDIs found were classified according to Tatro (2005). Key findings The data consisted of 43 482 ARV prescriptions claimed during 2004 and 51 613 for 2005. A total of 5 305 882 and 3 606 992 medicine items were claimed during 2004 and 2005 respectively, of which 1.92% were ARVs for 2004 and 3.38% for 2005. Of 18 035 DDIs identified, 83.89% were between ARVs and other medications, and 16.11% were between ARVs themselves for 2004. Of 25 130 DDIs identified for 2005, 92.59% were between ARVs and other medications, and 7.41% were between ARVs themselves. Conclusions The decrease in DDIs between ARVs alone for 2005 as compared to 2004 could indicate a possible impact of PMBs on HIV/AIDS, as a chronic disease in which management programmes were introduced to ensure the appropriateness and effectiveness of drugs in HIV/AIDS. It is therefore recommended that further investigations be done on the management of the most important DDIs between ARVs alone and other drugs prescribed on the same prescription.