Availability of Essential Medicines and Drugs for treatment of chronic disease in the pharmacies of Nepal during COVID 19 Pandemic

Background: The world is experiencing the worst pandemic of recent time. Hospitals are allowing only limited patients in the OPDs. The patients with various chronic diseases are asked to stay in home and are advised to continue taking the prescribed medicines. This study is planned to assess the availability commonly used drugs in pharmacies. Objectives: the objective of this study was to analyze the availability of drugs for chronic disease and essential medicines in Pharmacies Methods: The Performa was given to pharmacies around various hospitals of different provinces via medical officers working there. The filled Performa was collected and drug was considered available if it was present in pharmacy at that time. Along will availability of drugs, total number of brands available was also recorded. Results: Total of 58 pharmacies from all the province were included. Nine pharmacies from province one, 6 pharmacies from province two, 11 pharmacies from Bagmati province, 9 pharmacies from Gandakiprovinve, 12 pharmacies from Lumbini province, 2 pharmacies from Karnali province and 9 pharmacies from Sudhurpachhinm Pradesh were included. Among drugs used in chronic diseases, Amlodipine (94.8%) Metformin (93.1%),Losartan (93.1%), Atorvastatin (93.1%) and Glimeperide (89.7%) were most commonly available drugs in various pharmacies. Among other Essential drugs Paracetamol (100%), Metronidazole (100%), Amoxicillin (100%), Diclofenac( 96.6%), Azithromycin (96.6%), Cetrizine HCL(94.8%%), Albendazole (94.8%), were most commonly present. Highest number of brands available in a pharmacy was of Amlodipine (n=30) followed by losartan (n=20), Telmisartan (n=20), Metformin (n=20), Glimipiride (n=20) and Paracetamol (n=20). Conclusion: Most of the drugs used for chronic diseases and the essential drugs were available in the pharmacies however more extensive studies including larger number of pharmacies is necessary.