Purpose: The OTC utilization of
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine (CTPM) in Tianjin Second Central Hospital has been investigated
in order to revise the use structure and implement the classification rules of Recipes and Over-The-Couner drugs (OTC). Method: To Stat the utilization data of OTC in CTPM from 1997 to Oct.10, 1999, as well as the annual consumption amount upon drug categories. Analysis in 3 consecutive years from 1997-1999, was applied to the OTC utilization according to the capital sum of the consumption and the percentage of the total sales of each relevant year. Results: The variety of
OTC medicines in CTPM is over 20%of the total variety of drugs and the total consumption of the OTC amounts to about 20%of that of the total drugs. The drugs especially used for internal medicine account for 80%of OTC medicines. Conclusion: The proportion of OTC medi-consumption takes up a great part of total drug consumption, of which the drugs for internal medicine may play a dominant role.