Notice of Request for Comment on the Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Drugs List for Primary Health Care (2003 Edition)

The ministerially appointed National Essential Drugs List (EDL) Committee has reviewed the following chapters of the Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Drugs List for Primary Health Care (2003 edition):

• Chapter 3: Endocrine System - word document
• Chapter 7: Gynaecology and Obstetrics - word document
• Chapter 9: Renal and Urinary Tract Conditions - word document
• Chapter 11: Immunisation - word document

These chapters are also available on the Departmental website: http//www.health.gov.za.

The Primary Health Care Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List are aimed for use by doctors and nurses providing care at clinics, community health centres and gateway clinics at hospitals to provide access to pharmaceuticals to manage common conditions at this level.

Kindly circulate the attached chapter to relevant clinicians at your institutions for comment. Constructive comment with regard to the identification of gross errors, particularly diagnosis and treatment, will be appreciated.

A short motivation may be included to substantiate any comment made. Where an alternative drug is recommended, this should be supported by appropriate evidence.

Please note that the criteria for the selection of essential medicines in South Africa are based on the WHO guidelines for drawing up a national EML. They include the following:

• any drug included must meet the needs of the majority of the population
• sufficient proven scientific data regarding effectiveness must be available
• any drug included in the EML should have a substantial safety and risk/benefit ratio
• all products must be of an acceptable quality, and must be tested on a continuous basis
• the aim, as a rule, is to include only products containing single pharmacologically active ingredients
• combination products, as an exception, will be included where patient compliance becomes an important factor, or two pharmacologically active ingredients are synergistically active in a product
• products will be listed according to their generic names only
• where drugs are clinically equally effective, the drugs will be compared using the following:
• the best cost advantage
• the best researched
• the best pharmacokinetic properties
• the best patient compliance
• the most reliable local manufacturer

it would be appreciated if comments can be received by 17 June 2008.

Comments may be submitted via fax, e-mail or by post to:
Khadija Jamaloodien
Tel: 012 312 0008
Fax: 012 312 3102
E-mail: iama|k@health.gov.za
Essential Drugs Programme
Private Bag X828
PRETORIA 0001a