Over the counter (OTC) drug use; Narrative Review for Ethiopian Community based Health Insurance Schemes Policy Suggestion

Over the Counter Drugs are drugs that are sold with non-prescription, which means they are sold without a prescription from health providers. They are also referred as non-prescription drugs. In Ethiopia studies reported that most illiterate, very low income people are utilizing OTC drugs commonly analgesics/antipyretics, anthelmintic, antacid and others more. According to the review of different studies, benefits of these drugs outweigh their risks, low chance of misuse or abuse. In 2012, Ethiopian Food, Medicine, Health, Administration and Control Authority (EFMHACA) revised more than 93 OTC (non-prescription) drugs which are believed to be safe enough and well-tolerated when used without prescription but specified to be dispensed by pharmacy personnel with a sufficient counseling about the condition as well as the medicament besides the maximum quantity dispensed at one time. It also considered the importance of OTC drugs in increasing access as well as the potential of the public to make a more active role for the management of minor and common illnesses in their own and authorized to be used to treat a condition that does not require the direct supervision of health providers. However, the practice of OTC drug use has neither been listed under the benefit nor the non-benefit package of community based health insurance (CBHI) schemes in Ethiopia. Hence this review wants to highlight about the issue of OTC drugs use and to provide suggestion for further research and consideration by policy makers in the CBHI schemes design or directive and in the promotion of the practices of responsible and regulated OTC drugs use in Ethiopia.