Introduction: Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. In Ghana, 19.4% of all blindness recorded is due to glaucoma. Reducing intraocular pressure medically (using eye drops) is the evidence-based therapeutic option. Objective: To determine the rational use and undertake cost analysis of anti-glaucoma drugs among patients attending clinic at the Lions International Eye Centre (LIEC), Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we reviewed all prescriptions presented to the pharmacy unit from 01/12/2015 to 31/03/2016. The dispensed drops were classified, and all anti-glaucoma drugs were identified. This was followed by cost analysis. Results: A total of 588 prescriptions were captured, 27.3% (161/588) contained an anti-glaucoma medication. The mean number of anti-glaucoma medications was 1.71 of which 52.7% was prescribed to females. Prostaglandin analogs (PGA) were the most prescribed (37% (102/276)), followed by beta blockers (25.4% (70/276)), carbonic anhydrase group of medicines (16.3% (45/276)), combined beta blockers (11.2% (31/276)), alpha agonists (8.7% (24/276)) and miotics (1.4% (4/276)). The median (IQR) cost of anti-glaucoma therapy per prescription per month was GHC 65.00 (GHC38.5-GHC140) about [US$16.25 (US$ 9.6–US$35)]. Azopt (Brimonidine) was the most expensive with daily treatment cost of GHC 5.8 (about US$ 1.45), whilst the least expensive drug with a daily treatment cost of GHC 0.14 (about US$ 0.035) was timolol eye drops. Conclusion: Prostaglandin analogs though expensive remain the most preferred treatment for managing glaucoma at the Korle-Bu Eye Centre in Ghana. This may adversely affect treatment among the poor since prostaglandins analogs are currently not covered by insurance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) addressed drug utilization as the marketing, distribution, prescription and use of drugs in a society, considering its consequences, either medical, social, (and) or economic. The increasing importance of drug utilization studies as a valuable investigative resource in pharmacoepidemiology has bridged it with other health related areas, such as public health. Surveillance of drug use by the doctors within the institution as well as in the community is assuming an increasingly key role in therapeutics. This was a cross-sectional study of prescription pattern and drug utilization trends at the Lions International Eye Centre (LIEC) of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and adherence to the standard prescription form at the Eye Centre. Prescriptions that were presented to the LIEC pharmacy unit within the period from October 2015 to March 2016 were captured and reviewed. The total number of drugs in the 588 prescriptions was 1265. The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.1. Drug dosage, route of administration, frequency, and duration of treatment record were mentioned in 95.01% (1202/1265), 97% (1227/1265), 98.46% (1240/1265) 96.05% (1215/1265) of the prescriptions respectively. Anti-glaucoma medicines were the most prescribed 21.8% (276/1265), Prescribing by generic name slightly dominated with 51.1% (645/1265) of the total number of drugs prescribed. Use of Ophthalmic antibiotics alone and the use of ophthalmic antibiotics in combination with other medicines were 13.5% (171/1265) and 11.9% (142/1265) respectively.: The findings of this study revealed that the drug utilization pattern was not in line with the recommended standard values of WHO prescribing indicators even though the level of compliance to the requirements on the standard prescription form of the hospital for drug prescribers was remarkably high. The availability of key medicines should be improved whilst generic prescribing from EDL should also be encouraged.

The pharmacy profession is undergoing transformational change in Ghana. The role of pharmacists has become more patient-focused with increased accountability and responsibility. This study is aimed at reporting the experiential learning on the clinical interventions made and documented at the Allied Surgical Wards of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).This involves a review of patient's medical records during the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) learning. One case each from Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat, (ENT) and Dental units' subspecialty were reviewed from October 7, 2019 to November 15, 2019 b y a Pharm D student. The student was able to make prompt clinical interventions that contributed to patient care in clinical wards assigned during her clinical clerkship.

IntroductionGlaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. In Ghana, 19.4% of all blindness recorded is due to glaucoma. Reducing intraocular pressure medically (using eye drops) is the evidence-based therapeutic optionObjectives To determine the rational use and undertake cost analysis of anti-glaucoma drugs among patients attending clinic at the Lions International Eye Centre, Korle bu Teaching Hospital (LIEC).MethodsIn this cross sectional study, we reviewed all prescriptions presented to the pharmacy unit from 01/12/015 to 31/03/2016. The dispensed drops were classified and all anti-glaucoma drugs were identified. This was followed by cost analysis.ResultsA total of 588 prescriptions were captured, 27.3% (161/588) contained an anti-glaucoma medication. The mean number of anti-glaucoma medications was1.71 of which 52.7% was prescribed to females.Prostaglandin analogues were the most prescribed (37% (102/276)), followed by beta blockers (25.4% (70/276)), carbonic anhydrase group of medicines (16.3% (45/276)), combined beta blockers (11.2% (31/276)), alpha agonists (8.7% (24/276)) and miotics (1.4% (4/276)). The median (IQR) average cost of anti-glaucoma therapy per prescription per month was GHC 65.00 (GHC38.5-GHC140). Azopt (Brimonidine) was the most expensive with daily treatment cost of GHC 5.8 (about US$ 1.45), whilst the least expensive drug with a daily treatment cost of GHC 0.14 (about US$ 0.035) was timolol eye drops. ConclusionsProstaglandins analogues remain the most preferred treatment for managing glaucoma at the Korle-Bu Eye Centre in Ghana but are also the most costly. This may adversely affect treatment among the poor since prostaglandins are currently not reimbursed.

Compliance with standard treatment guidelines (STGs) for the empirical management of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) ensures the rational use of antibiotics and mitigates antimicrobial resistance. Operational research (OR) at Korle Bu Polyclinic in Ghana (2022) showed suboptimal STG compliance (prescription of recommended antibiotics in the correct dose, route, frequency, and duration). Some of the recommendations from the OR, including training of medical residents, implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship team, and an audit–feedback system, were implemented. This before-and-after study compared the changes in empirical prescribing practices for patients diagnosed with uncomplicated UTIs before (October 2019–October 2021) and after (January 2023–December 2024) the OR. Of the 3717 and 3457 UTI patients in the before and after cohorts, 83% and 86% received empirical antibiotics, respectively. Among those who received empirical antibiotics, STG compliance increased from 60% to 66% (p-value < 0.001). However, STG compliance remained significantly lower among males (18%) compared to females (85%) in the after cohort, as 80% of males were prescribed antibiotics for a shorter period than the recommended 10–14 days. Moving forward, the training and audit–feedback system should emphasize longer antibiotic durations for males with UTI. Given its positive impact, the OR’s approach warrants replication for other disease conditions.