Case study of the population's access to medicines in pharmacies without a medical prescription

Authors

  • Paola Andrea Mena Silva
  • Tania Miazoe Araujo Bermúdez
  • Daniela Alexandra Sevilla Lomas
  • Fernando Marcelo Armijos Briones

Keywords:

self-medication, Misoprostol, medical prescription, case study, pharmacies

Abstract

Introduction: It is important to investigate the population's access to drugs in pharmacies without medical prescription because this practice can have important public health implications.
Objective: To characterize the population's access to the drug Misoprostol in pharmacies without medical prescription.
Methods: The research was descriptive, and the variable of interest was the access of the population to the drug Misoprostol in pharmacies without medical prescription, which was measured through an interview.
Results: It was evidenced that a quarter of the pharmacies in the Huachi-Totoras sector allow access to the drug Misoprostol without medical prescription.
Conclusions: Population access to medicines in pharmacies is a complex multifactorial problem, which should be addressed to improve access to medicines and ensure adequate health care for the entire population. Further studies are needed to understand the underlying factors that influence OTC access, the relationship between OTC access and self-medication, the impact of OTC access on public health, and the effectiveness of interventions to improve OTC access. These studies will provide valuable information to improve public health and ensure safe and effective access to medicines for all.

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Published

2023-07-17

How to Cite

1.
Mena Silva PA, Araujo Bermúdez TM, Sevilla Lomas DA, Armijos Briones FM. Case study of the population’s access to medicines in pharmacies without a medical prescription. Rev Cubana Inv Bioméd [Internet]. 2023 Jul. 17 [cited 2025 Dec. 16];42(2). Available from: https://revibiomedica.sld.cu/index.php/ibi/article/view/2942