Comparison of drug utilization of most commonly used drugs in Poland and Czech Republic.

Utilization of drugs from the following groups: antibacterial, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and respiratory tract diseases in Poland and Czech Republic was analyzed. The most commonly sold drugs were among antibacterial drugs, viz., doxycycline (4.5DDD/1000 inh./day in Poland; 3.3 in Czech Republic), co-trimoxazole (Poland-2.9; Czech Republic 2.5), ampicilline and amoxicilline; among gastrointestinal drugs, ascorbic acid (Poland 42.2; Czech Republic 59.3), among respiratory drugs, sodium cromoglicate in Poland and bromhexine in Czech Republic, and among cardiovascular drugs, enalapril in Poland and diuretics with potasium sparing drug in Czech Republic. In general, the leading drugs in Poland and Czech Republic, were the same. All drugs with highest utilization were on the Essential Drug List. Some differences in drug utilization between these two countries could result from the prevalence of particular diseases in each population and physician's prescribing patterns.