Dispensation of Analgesics Survey in Private Pharmacies in Commune II of Bamako

Quick Response Code Abstract: Background: Self-medication and non-compliance with good dispensing practices cause a real public health problem. This study aims to evaluate the dispensation of analgesics in the private offices of the commune II of the district of Bamako. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in seventeen private pharmacies of the commune II of Bamako. It consisted of collecting data on the dispensing of analgesics with or without a medical prescription over October 2020 to March 2021. Results: 302 clients were included in this study. 18 to 35 age group was the most represented with 47.68%. The most represented occupation was merchants with 25.16%. More than 64% of clients came forward with a medical prescription and 35.43% for self-medication. Headaches were the primary motivation for the purchase of analgesics with 33.77% of demands. In monotherapy, paracetamol was the most dispensed molecule with 20.2% followed by tramadol with 18.87% among which 4.97% was dispensed for self-medication and 13.91% by prescription. Fixed combination Paracetamol/Codeine was the most dispensed by prescription with 16.56% and 9.93% for self-medication. 1.32% of the fixed combination Paracetamol/Tramadol was demanded for self-medication and 7.62% by prescription. We observed a hight non-compliance with the rules of dispensing analgesics from List I with 32.02% by self-medication. Conclusion: The main molecules solicited with or without prescription were paracetamol/codeine, paracetamol and tramadol. There is also a high over-the-counter dispensing of list I analgesics.