Comparing the Drug Prescription before and after the Implementation of Health System Reform Plan in Southeastern Community Pharmacies of Iran

ABSTRACT Background: In Iran, the health system reform plan (HSRP) has been implemented since 2014. We aimed to evaluate the prescriptions in Zabol city before and after the implementation of this national plan. Methods: 2000 prescriptions received to six pharmacies in Zabol city were evaluated. 1000 prescriptions were randomly selected in April 2014 and the pharmacy code, distance from clinic, type of insurance, number of drugs prescribed, total price of drugs, price of the drugs under insurance coverage and not under insurance coverage, and most prescribed drugs were compared with 1000 prescriptions randomly selected from the same pharmacies in April 2015. Results: Of 68822 prescriptions before HSRP, 71.8% and after HSRP, of 56536 prescriptions, 66.5% were related to pharmacies close to clinic. The mean number of the prescriptions reduced from 260.4±132.2 to 242.9±102.3 and that of prescribed drugs in each prescription reduced from 3.42±1.6 to 3.1±1.4 (both P<0.001), while the price of the drugs did not change (P>0.05). Conclusion: HSRP reduced the number of the drugs prescribed, but not the price, although the type of drugs most commonly prescribed varied between the two study phases. HSRP was successful in Zabol city regarding reducing the total number of drugs prescribed.