The Sri Lanka Patients’ Formulary (SLPF) is a publication that is really needed and most appropriate for current Sri Lankan medical practice. For health care to be successful patient compliance is of crucial importance and this in turn depends on good communication between the recipient and the provider. This work edited by Professor Colvin Goonaratna, and Doctors Chamari Weeraratne, Manuj C. Weerasinghe and Thiwanka D. Wijeratna is a very timely contribution to bridge the communication gap between healthcare provider and user.
This SLPF gives patients, their careers and the general public an opportunity to gain greater understanding of the medicines that are prescribed for them. It has been the practice for too long that the doctor prescribes and the patient presumably obeys by faithfully taking the medicine. Do they actually use the medicines prescribed? If they do, is it in the correct manner and dosage?The Introduction to the SLPF is a clear and concise guide to the reader on how to extract and use information on the medicines prescribed. How much information does the patient need to know? Too little would compromise the much desired patient compliance, whereas knowing it all might bring in the fear of rare side-effects. Such unwarranted fear on the part of the patient may affect the treatment.
The SLPF is designed so that groups of medicines are arranged systematically in alphabetical order of generic name, which permits patients to navigate the text to find the relevant data on the medicines prescribed for the effective and rapid cure they desire. Information is given for each medicine, on the reason for using the medicines, benefits that may accrue by their use, how they should be taken and stored, and their main side-effects. As mentioned in the Preface the SLPF is not intended to be either exhaustive or comprehensive, and not meant for purposes of self-diagnosis or for directing self-investigation of disease.Self-medication is common and the misplaced fear of encouraging it has restricted dissemination of medicinal drug related information among the public. The Editors of the SLPF have ensured that the work includes adequate information on the undesirable effects of medicines so that irresponsible self-medication is likely to be inhibited. I am confident that the SLPF will help patients and careers to interact in an atmosphere of better understanding with the prescribing clinician.
This SLPF is the combined effort of many expert professionals who are committed to devote time and effort to produce a user-friendly source of reference about medicines. They have used information from several guidelines and sources from Sri Lankan and international organizations of good repute. The inclusion of advice such as dosing for neonates, infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, and the elderly make the SLPF an essential household bookshelf item.
The reader of the SLPF is also made aware of good prescribing practice. These sections, which some readers may not consider as being important, are actually of great practical significance. The SLPF has also a comprehensive general index, an index of generic vs selected brand names, and a list of commonly used laboratory investigation reference ranges (i.e. "normal" values) that add value to it as a source of information for patients and their careers.
At Rs. 500/= per copy, it is available at the Rajya Osu Sala, Colombo 7; Sri Lanka Medical Association, No 6 Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 (Mon. - Fri.); and Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8 (Mon. - Fri.).
I am thankful for this opportunity afforded to me to add my thoughts on the SLPF and wish the readers the very best for their good health in the future, for which the SLPF is likely to contribute substantially.
Harshalal R. Seneviratne MBBS DM FSLCOG FRCOG
Senior Professor and Dean
Faculty of Medicine,
University of Colombo.
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