Drug Utilization Review

Drug utilization review (DUR) refers to a review of prescribing, dispensing, administering and ingesting of medication. This authorized, structured and ongoing review is related to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Also, drug use/ utilization evaluation (DUE) and Medication utilization evaluations (MUE) are the same as drug utilization review (DUR). Drug utilization review (DUR) refers to a review of prescribing, dispensing, administering and ingesting of medication. This authorized, structured and ongoing review is related to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Also, drug use/ utilization evaluation (DUE) and Medication utilization evaluations (MUE) are the same as drug utilization review (DUR). With the development of society and the economy, the costs of health care grows rapidly, and this becomes a burden on the worldwide health protection system. Aging populations, a changing disease spectrum, and the progress and change in technology of health care become the major problems which lead to increasing of health care costs. Then, how to use drug utilization evaluation (DUR) and drug economy evaluation to improve and optimize the allocation of medical and health resources is a major problem faced by many countries. Drug utilization reviews will help ensure that drugs are used appropriately (for individual patients). In the drug utilization review, medicine and health history including all phases of dispensing for a patient is exactly listed. Also, this review is designed to attempt to attain proper decision making therapeutically and gain a positive outcome for the patient. If treatment is considered inappropriate, it will be necessary to intervene with providers or patients to optimize medication. Then, especially in the community medicine setting, Drug utilization review plays a key role for pharmacist. In addition, The World Health Organization (WHO) regards drug utilization as 4 phases of drugs in society. These four phases are marketing, distribution, prescription and usage. Drug utilization review originated from the North America. However, in the recent years, other countries do more research and studies about drug utilization review. Some developments are regarded as important promoters for the appearance of Drug Utilization Review. One factor is the increasing coverage of insurance for medication dispensing in the 1970s and 1980s. This insurance decreased the cost of medication dispensing for the economic interest and create computer-based data of patient therapy information. Another factor is that technical feasibility was improved in 1960s. The first document published related to drug utilization review was in 1969. Drug utilization review acted as a background paper written by the DHEW's Task Force. This Task Force considered that drug utilization review was potential but this review should be evaluated and need valid evidence to put into effect. In 1970, Drug utilization review program was carried out by a private pharmaceutical management company. It focused on the cost of another program. By the mid-1970, many medical programs cooperate with private companies that providing drug utilization review. From 1985, hospitals in America are requested to use drug utilization review when using antibiotics.