Evaluation of rational drug use in primary healthcare centres of Probolinggo District, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: The Indonesian government has been working on optimising drug use in primary healthcare centres (puskesmas) of the Probolinggo District Health Office (dinkes). Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the rationality of drug use (RDU) using indicators set by the Indonesian Ministry of Health. Method: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using data from 33 Puskesmas in Probolinggo Dinkes during the year 2022. Data on patients diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) non-pneumonia (n = 36,378), non-specific diarrhoea (n = 4,291), and myalgia injection cases (n = 9,641) were collected. Result: The study's findings showed that the percentage of antibiotics for ARI was 17.11%, meeting the standard. Of the 33 Puskesmas, 67% met the standard, while 33% did not. Meanwhile, the antibiotic used for non-specific diarrhoea was 9.58%, exceeding the tolerance limit, with 55% of Puskesmas meeting the standard and 45% not. The percentage for injectable drugs in myalgia cases was 0.43%, in line with the standard, with 82% of Puskesmas meeting the standard and 18% not. Conclusion: The study found that antibiotic usage for ARI and injections for myalgia met the standards, but for non-specific diarrhoea cases did not.