Introduction:

Colombian pharmaceutical policy established the adequate prescription of drugs, as a strategy to counteract the inequitable access to drugs and the deficient quality of health care. Objective: establish restrictions on the use of drugs in a highly complex hospital and measure the economic impact, without affecting the safety of care.

Materials and methods:

Each drug were evaluated according to the inclusion of the health benefits plan (PBS), use in emergencies and alternatives of use. Then, they were classified according to prescription restrictions: 1) no restriction, 2) urgent and prescription with restriction by specialty, 3) non-urgent and prescription with restriction by specialty, 4) restricted prescription, and 5) prescription forbidden. The comparison between 12 months before restriction and 33 months afterwards.

Results:

1217 medications were included. 56.5% included in the PBS of prescription without restriction, 22.4% not included in the PBS of prescription with restriction by specialty, 11.6% forbidden and 6.0% restricted. After the restriction, there was a statistically significant monthly decrease of at least 58,274 pharmaceutical units and USD $275,446. The greatest impact was obtained with PBS drugs, followed by no urgent PBS.

Conclusion:

The establishment of clear prescribing criteria allows a reduction in the cost associated with the drug's use, as well as a rational use of them, without affecting the patients' safety.