The irrational use of drugs has become a serious problem in Ethiopia. One of the causes for irrational drug use is the absence of a standard treatment guideline for the most common diseases in the country. Only a limited number of diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases have adapted standard treatment guidelines. This has led both prescribers and dispensers to prescribe and dispense different drugs for the same disease, making treatment non-uniform and paving the way for irrational drug use. A collaborative effort among prescribers, dispensers and drug consumers is required to address the problem. The formulation of a standard treatment guideline is one of the most important measures that could be taken to promote the rational use of drugs.

The present STG contains guides to general and special prescribing, specific treatment guidelines for a large number of common health conditions in Ethiopia, and relevant annexes that are useful for treatment and prevention. Diseases are classified into sections: infectious, non-infectious, common paediatric problems, common obstetric/gynaecological problems, common skin conditions and acute/emergency problems. Every disease has a brief description on the disease pattern, including ways of diagnosis and treatment. Both non-drug and drug treatment, both first line and alternatives drugs are listed for the treatment of a given disease. Under drug treatment, information on doses, course of therapy, dosage forms, side effects, contraindications and drug interactions are given for first line and alternative drugs.

This standard treatment guideline is designed to be used as a guide to treatment choices and as a reference book to help in the overall management of patients.

It is emphasized that the choices described here have the weight of scientific evidences to support them, together with the collective opinion of a wide group of recognized national experts.

The content of this treatment guideline will undergo a process of continuous review comments or suggestions for improvement are well come. Those comments or suggestions for addition of diseases should include evidence of prevalence as well as a draft treatment guideline using the format set one in this guideline. In the cases of a request for a new drug or replacing a listed product with another product, the evidence base must be clearly defined and included with the request.

These comments or suggestions should be sent to

The Drug Administration and Control Authority (DACA) of Ethiopia
P.O. Box 5681
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia