Author/Authors :
Meemary, F. Ministry of Health , Koreym, M. Ministry of Health , Ottmani, S-E. World Health Organization - Stop TB Department, Switzerland , Blanc, L. World Health Organization - Stop TB Department, Switzerland , Pio, A. , Baghdadi, S. World Health Organization Regional Office for theEastern Mediterranean - Department of Communicable Diseases, Egypt , Assetin, G. Syrian Chest Disease Association, Syrian , seten, M. Private Chest Clinic, Syrian , Bashour, H. Damascus University School of Medicine - Depsrtmem of Epidemiology, Syrian , Seita, A. World Health Organization Regional Office for theEastern Mediterranean - Department of Communicable Diseases, Egypt
Abstract :
We assessed implementation of the Practical Approach to Lung Health (PAL) in primary care facilities in the Syrian Arab Republic and its short-term impact on respiratory care in patients aged 5+ years. After training on PAL for 76 general practitioners in 75 health centres , referrals and sputum smear examinations for patients increased . The mean number of drugs prescribed per patient decreased by 14.8% and that of antibiotics by 33.3%, while prescriptions for inhaled medications increased . The mean cost of drug prescriptions fell by 26.2%.
