Abstract:

Intensive care unit is a setting where large numbers of drugs administered to patients with a highly cost. Objectives:To identify the extent of availability of drugs that used in ICUs of hospitals, and compare the extent of their availability between public and private hospitals.Methods:The study carried out in a multidisciplinary ICU of Yemeni hospitals in different cities included, Sana'a, Dhamar, and Rada'a. Out of 35 public and private hospitals targeted in this study, 27 hospitals agreed to screen their ICU drugs, whereas eight hospitals refused. By using the list of WHO for ICU drugs, 22 drugs evaluated in Yemeni hospitals' intensive care units. Results:The results of our study showed that the availability of intensive care unit drugs in intensive care unit of private hospitals (46%) was higher than public hospitals (44%). There was different between hospitals about the number of drugs thatused in intensive care unit. Fifteen hospitals used less than 50% of drugs that involved in the list of intensive care unit drugs of World health organization. Only 5 private hospitals were used all drugs of intensive care that included in list of World health organization. Conclusion:There was lacking or absent in some significant ICU drugs in a number of intensive care units of hospitals, especially, the public hospitals. This not compatible with the list of ICU drug of WHO, therefore, there is urgent need to organize standard list for drugs that use in ICU by cooperation between the health authorities and the hospitals, as well as the helping of the list of World Health Organization.

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