[Regulatory non-compliance of medical prescriptions: Implications for the dispensing of health products in pharmacies in the wilayas of Nouakchott].

Abstract

Dispensing in a pharmacy is an important pharmaceutical act in order to deliver medicines safely. The aim of our study was to assess the compliance of prescriptions with the regulatory requirements and the consequences of non-compliance on the dispensing of medicines. The study collected 768 medical prescriptions from 16 pharmacies in 5 Moughataas in the 3 Wilayas of Nouakchott. The results show that the surname and first name of the prescriber (87.9%), the professional address (92.4%), the date of the prescription (95.1%), the signature and stamp (84.6%) were the most respected details. The study showed that 99.6% of prescriptions collected were written in French. Also, 76% of medicines were prescribed in the form of specialities. About 90% of prescriptions were handwritten. The non-conformities observed prevented the entire prescription from being dispensed (38.5%) and had consequences on the quality of the advice given to the patient (56.8%). In conclusion, the legal information on prescriptions were not respected, hence the need to rethink the regulatory information, to introduce a single model prescription for the public and private sectors, and to enforce the prescription of essential generic medicines in order to promote rational use and improve the affordability of medicines.