Session Information
Date: Thursday, June 8, 2017
Session Title: Other
Session Time: 1:15pm-2:45pm
Location: Exhibit Hall C
Objective: To determine the availability of two categories of anti-PD drugs in each level of healthcare facilities and region in Thailand.
Background: Anti-Parkinsonian (PD) drugs in Thailand are classified into 2 categories; (1) National drug lists (levodopa, anticholinergics, bromocriptine) and (2) Special drugs used under evaluations (other dopamine agonists, COMT inhibitors and MAO-B inhibitors). Drugs in the category (1) are prescribed by general physicians while drugs in the category (2) are only be prescribed by specialists.
Methods: Validated questionnaires for determining the anti-PD drugs availability were sent to a total of 1299 hospitals in 77 provinces of Thailand. The questionnaires were consisted of drug availability in each hospital, cost of anti-PD drugs and hospital details [details are in figure1].
Results: A total of 791(61%) hospitals including 28 (3.5%) referral hospitals, 654 (82.7%) community hospitals and 109 (13.8%) private hospitals responded to our questionnaires. The top three most common anti-PD drugs availability among Thai hospitals were anticholinergic agents (85.1%), followed by levodopa (69.3%) and dopamine agonists (16.6%). Anticholinergics was the only drug available in every province[figure2]. Levodopa was available in almost provinces[figure2]. Other drugs in the category (2) were available less than 75% of provinces[figure3]. Both categories of drugs were mainly available in the referral and private hospitals as well as hospitals in the central region of Thailand.
Conclusions: The basic anti-PD drugs which can be prescribed by general physicians are available in every province in Thailand whereas the drugs which can be prescribed only by specialists are still limited. Advanced PD patients who need more options of anti-PD drugs should have an opportunity to be referred to high level hospitals for best treatment
References: No references
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
K. Sakdisornchai, R. Bhidayasiri, O. Jitkritsadakul, p. panyakaew, J. Sringean. Availability of anti-Parkinsonian drugs in Thailand [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2017; 32 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/availability-of-anti-parkinsonian-drugs-in-thailand/. Accessed May 9, 2025.« Back to 2017 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/availability-of-anti-parkinsonian-drugs-in-thailand/