FED: 9 million less prescriptions

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2003
FED: 9 million less prescriptions

A national survey of GPs shows doctors wrote 9 million fewer prescriptions last year
than they did five years ago.

The Institute of Health and Welfare says the drop is largely due to a marked decrease
in the prescription of antibiotics for the common cold.

HELENA BRITT of Sydney University says the figures suggest education initiatives aimed
at stopping GPs prescribing antibiotics to patients with colds are working.

Professor BRITT says another significant finding is that doctors are moving away from
the prescription of cheaper, less effective cephalosporin antibiotics to higher-quality
broad spectrum penicillin.

General Practice Activity in Australia 2002-03 showed GPs had about 100 million consultations
in 2002-2003 and prescribed about 84 million medications.

The rates of prescribed medications fell from 93 per 100 encounters in 1998-99 to 84 in 2002-3.

AAP RTV jjs/wz/lma

KEYWORD: PRESCRIPTIONS (SYDNEY)

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