Evaluation and application of drug statistics

Drug statistics from wholesalers are basically relatively precise and offer important tools for medical and health economic evaluations and for the suggestions of appropriate regulatory changes, campaigns etc. The statistics can be used to:

• survey consumption, and hence therapy, on different levels and during time
• measure the effect of legislative changes and informational efforts
• define needs for further investigation of drug therapy traditions

The following limitations should however be kept in mind when using the statistics:

• all medicaments sold from the wholesalers are not necessarily consumed
• sales intended for use in general practice and institutions are not treated separately in this book’s statistical material
• Variations in population structure (age, sex), number of medical practitioners, pharmacies and hospitals are not considered