Health Impact of Unauthorized Medicine Sales in an Industrial Distribution Center

Abstract

Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani Province, Thailand, has been recognized as a national distribution center for several kinds of goods. The public problems in this industrial district could impact the health of people across Thailand. This study aims to prioritize the medicines-related problems affecting people’s health. A multimethod design was employed in this study. First, the public problems affecting people’s health were surveyed by the division of consumer protection, department of pharmacy. Second, disease burden was analyzed via the hospital database. Third, an interactive multivoting process was conducted to prioritize public problems affecting people’s health. In 2019, 48.5% of grocery stores (11 out of 24) sold Ya-Chud (including NSAIDs and steroids). Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding was the leading cause of hospitalization. The incidence rate of GI bleeding, average LOS, and average cost of inpatient admission from 2020--2022 were 51.55 per 1000 people, 8 days per admission, 538.47$ USD, 80.80 per 1000 people, 4.1 days per admission, 225.66$ USD and 45.45 per 1000 people, 4.5 days per admission, and 464.55$ USD, respectively. Multiple reports indicate that buying medicines, especially NSAIDs, from grocery stores without pharmacist care is the most important problem affecting people’s health. A master plan for addressing medicines-related problems focusing on Ya-Chud is needed. Linkagesamong stakeholders’ databases, including community hospitals, community leaders, and private sectors, should be developed to serve the plan.