The efficacy of NHIS-listed anti-glaucoma drugs in the management of primary open-angle glaucoma

Abstract

Ghana is the most affected country in Africa as far as glaucoma is concerned. This study therefore aims at determining the efficacy of the National Health Insurance Scheme listed anti-glaucoma drugs in the management of primary open-angle glaucoma in Ghana. This retrospective survey was carried out at the Golden Jubilee Eye Centre of St Michael’s Catholic Hospital, Pramso in the Bosomtwi Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region of Ghana from January 2008 to De-cember 2010. By random and purposive sampling, 141 patient folders (35.25% of total folders stud-ied) were selected and data on drugs and intra-ocular pressure measurements for eight consecutive visits to the centre were recorded and analyzed appropriately. The outcome of primary open-angle glaucoma in the study was not gender sensitive but increased with age (majority 70 – 79 years). While Timolol, in monotherapy, reduced but not significantly (p > 0.05) the initial mean intra-ocular pressure measurements, Latanoprost reduced the initial mean intra-ocular pressure very significantly (p ≤ 0.001). Combination therapies involving Latanoprost and listed anti-glaucoma drugs reduced intra-ocular pressure significantly than combination therapies involving NHIS-listed drugs only (p ≤ 0.01). Though the National Health Insurance Scheme listed anti-glaucoma drug show intra-ocular pressure reduction in mono- and combination therapies, reduction by Lat-anoprost and combination of Latanoprost with the NHIS-listed drugs is very much significant. An addition of Latanoprost to the National Health Insurance Scheme list of anti-glaucoma medica-tions would therefore be very beneficial to glaucoma patients in Ghana.Keywords: Blindness, Intra-ocular pressure, Latanoprost, Timolol, Health Insurance Scheme Journal of Medical and Biomedical Sciences (2012) 1(2), 50-58