Progress on PRUD activities;
■ Extensive research has shown that standard treatment guidelines, essential drugs lists and formularies do promote rational prescribing of
drugs by prescribers.
■ By the end of 1999, 157 countries had an essential drugs list.
■ 135 countries have developed national treatment guidelines, of which 112 have been updated in the last five years.
■ There are now more than 100 national formularies,
■ By the end of 1999, 88 countries in all six WHO regions had introduced the essential drugs concept into curricula for medicine and pharmacy students.