EVALUATION OF THE INFLUENCE AND EFFICACY OF TUNISIAN DRUGS COMPARED TO OTHER COMMERCIAL MEDICINES IN PHARMACIES OF LIBYA
Asma Ali Alkharbash, Doaa Omar Alamory, Sajeda Mahmoud Azzokari, *Zubaeda Alsayeh,
Ahmed Ali EBshena
ABSTRACT
Background: The availability, affordability, and therapeutic effectiveness of medicines are critical components of healthcare delivery, particularly in countries that rely heavily on imported pharmaceutical products. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in community pharmacies in Al-Zawia, Surman, and Sabratha. The study included 300 adult patients who had used either Tunisian or non-Tunisian medicines within the preceding three months, in addition to 25 licensed community pharmacists. The results indicated that Tunisian-manufactured medicines were more frequently used than non-Tunisian medicines. Tunisian medicines demonstrated significantly higher perceived therapeutic efficacy scores (p = 0.001), greater availability, and higher affordability (p < 0.001). Patients using Tunisian medicines showed better treatment adherence (p = 0.028) and reported fewer adverse effects compared with those using non-Tunisian alternatives (p = 0.013). In conclusion, Tunisian-manufactured medicines exhibited advantages over other imported medicines in terms of perceived efficacy, accessibility, affordability, adherence, and safety within Libyan community pharmacies. These findings underscore the importance of evaluating imported medicines and strengthening regulatory oversight to support rational medicine use and improved therapeutic outcomes in Libya.
Keywords: Tunisian-manufactured medicines; Imported medicines; Libya.
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