Prescribed drugs: a major cause of ill health

Abstract

Harm caused by ill-effects of prescribed drugs is largely unrecognised, but when looked for has been found to be an important cause of ill health. Perhaps 6% of all hospital admissions and some 800 deaths a year are caused by prescribed medication in Australia. The elderly, especially those in institutions, are particularly prone to injury by drugs. Attempts to use visiting pharmacists to influence the prescribing habits of doctors have resulted in unspectacular success. It is suggested that prescribing habits may more effectively be changed by visiting from specially trained practising doctors.