1t is necessary to study the drug use due its significance and complexity. Nowadays there is evidence we ha ve effective therapeutic agents, however pharmaceuticals are frequently used irrationally. The importance of rational use was agreed upon by all in a WHO promoted conference of experts where specific proposals, for how more appropiate use of drugs should be achieved, were established. This article will focus on actions and conditions to perform these recommendations. Furthermore, we will examine additional ones related with drug-related morbidity and mortality prevention, the overall quality of prescribing, dispensing and patient education on drugs and the need of indicators to demostrate that these strategies would improve rational drug use.

El uso de los medicamentos es necesario estudiarlo debido a su importancia y complejidad. Se ha conseguido tener medicamentos eficaces y valiosos pero no siempre son usados de forma apropiada. Partiendo de los criterios establecidos por la OMS para un uso racional de los medicamentos se indican una serie de requisitos y condiciones para el cumplimiento de estas recomendaciones. Además se especifican y desarrollan otros criterios relacionados con la prevención de la morbilidad y mortalidad relacionada con medicamentos, la calidad de la prescripción, dispensación y educación sobre medicamentos y la necesidad de unos indicadores que evalúen los avances en uso racional.