Anti-tuberculous drug prescribing: doctors' compliance at a private teaching hospital in Pakistan.

An adequate and appropriate anti-TB drug prescription is of crucial importance in order to "cure" a TB patient of his or her disease. This study looked at the prescribing habits of doctors working in a private teaching hospital of Pakistan. The results showed that the majority of doctors (79%) were choosing the correct four-drug regiment of RHZE in the intensive phase, as recommended in the National Guidelines. However, the dosage of some drugs were below the recommended ranges (43% of prescriptions for Pyraizinamide and 48% for Ethambutol). Regular audit of doctors' prescriptions is necessary in order to ensure that the National TB Guidelines are fully implemented by physicians working in the private sector of Pakistan.