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PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII PNEUMONIA
Author(s) -
Gabriel Botella F,
Balaguer Martínez Jv,
Labios Gómez M,
Vera Sempere G,
Manzanera Escarti R,
García Fuster Mj
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1964.tb109524.x
Subject(s) - pneumocystis carinii , sputum , bronchoalveolar lavage , medicine , pneumonia , population , immunology , gastroenterology , pathology , tuberculosis , pneumocystis jirovecii , lung , environmental health
the negotiations between the Department and drug manufacturers. This is most notable in relation to certain antibiotics and non-mercurial diuretics, which have an important place both in the number of prescriptions and in the cost structure. The Director-General states that the increasing number of prescriptions is "naturally of some concern in our elIorts to keep the cost of the scheme to a minimum while ensuring that a full and elIective service is available". In this regard he points out that the prescribing of the hypnotic drugs, mainly the barbiturates, continues to absorb an increasing proportion of the total number of prescriptions written, increasing from 8'8% of the total in 1961-1962 to 10·8% in 1962-1963 and to 12·4% in 1963-1964. A total of 364,000,000 tablets and capsules in the hypnotic drug group was supplied as pharmaceutical benefits in 1963-1964, and this figure does not include the tablets and capsules supplied to patients in hospitals. These figures certainly warrant careful thought, but there would be no point in bickering over this particular matter. A number of variables and imponderables come into the picture. In particular, it might well be stated that an increase in the number of prescriptions means that more people are seeing their doctors when they should-a course that has always been advocated as in the interests of the public health-and also that it could mean less self-medication, although the last-mentioned point would probably be very diftlcult to demonstrate one way or another. However, it is perfectly reasonable for the Government to expect to look to the profession for a responsible attitude in this matter. There is no virtue in saving money on any public service, particularly a health service, at the cost of the elIectiveness of what is being done, but all of us as taxpayers must applaud fair economy.