Article Text
Short report
Supply problems of unlicensed and off-label medicines after discharge
Abstract
A total of 709 unlicensed and off-label medicines were prescribed for 338 patients discharged from a paediatric hospital between 1 November 2003 and 31 January 2004. Thirty three per cent of patients had difficulty obtaining these medications in primary care which caused treatment disruption. The main problems were: (1) community pharmacies being unable to supply; and (2) GPs’ refusal to prescribe.
- unlicensed
- off-label
- general practitioners
- prescribing
- pharmacy