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Monday, January 25, 1999
Kerala goes for a Medical formulary
Leela Menon
KOCHI, Jan 24: The `prescription virus' is afflicting Kerala's health scenario, escalating the cost of medical care, due to the absence of medical auditing, a medical formulary, and an essential drugs list. As a result, `overprescription' is common as diagnosis has become mostly symptom-based. Placebo drugs like cough syrups, rejuvenators, vitamins and tonics which are quite unessential, swell the prescription list and drain the consumer's purse. It is common knowledge that such prescriptions are inspired by the incentives behind it. Like scans or unwarranted surgeries.Medical services are monitored and audited in all developed countries. This has not been possible in Kerala despite its high health status comparable to any developed country what with proliferating private sector practice. This information gap about what is absolutely necessary and what is wholly superfluous is, however, about to be filled. Kerala is finally in the process of compiling a State Medical Formulary, which is expected to becompleted by March. Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.

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