Drug utilization and cost patterns in selected health care facilities in Kenya

Abstract

Purposive sampling in 4 public and private health care facilities in Coast and Nyanza provinces, Kenya was conducted to determine the variations in the duration of hospitalization, number of therapeutic agents used in treatment, duration of dosing, criteria for drug selection, and patient monitoring procedures. The pricing of the drugs was also evaluated where possible. The study showed that malaria accounted for the largest percentage of hospitalization, 30%; gactro-intenstinal cases accounted for 27%, while chest infections accounted for approximately 13%. These observations were comparatively similar in the two regions surveyed; the Coast and Nyanza provinces. The climatic conditions (hot and humid) are similar in the two study areas and malaria is endemic. The mean cost of drugs as a percentage of the total hospitalization bill was 44% and ranged from 21.3% to 72.4%