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KMID : 0390320130230020125
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Chungbuk Medical Journal
2013 Volume.23 No. 2 p.125 ~ p.132
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Comparison of Drug Classification and Reclassification in Several Advanced Countries
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Kim Hun-Sik
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Abstract
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Purpose: Proper classifications of prescription and nonprescription drugs are essential for better operation of the policy separating prescribing and dispensing. For the improvement of drug classification system in Korea, current status of drug classification and reclassification in several advanced countries was compared with that of Korea.
Materials and Methods: Databases from WSMI(world self-medication industry) web site containing information on the current drug classification and reclassification of 9 selected countries were analyzed for comparison.
Results: The ratio of the number of prescription drugs to nonprescription drugs is as low as 0.49, which is the second lowest number next to United Kingdom. There is only one case of drug reclassification (switch of classification) in Korea, which stands in sharp contrast other countries where drug reclassification process is actively working.
Conclusion: It seems that there are more nonprescription drugs in Korea relative to other selected countries. There also seems to be more unnecessary drugs being used in Korea in comparison to other countries. Drug evaluation and reclassification process is found to be the least active in Korea among selected countries. Activation of these processes are essential for improvement of drug classification system in Korea.
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KEYWORD
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Drug classification, Prescription drug, Nonprescription drug, Self-medication and Drug reclassification
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