%0 Journal Article
%T The efficacy of NHIS-listed anti-glaucoma drugs in the management of primary open-angle glaucoma
%A GA Koffuor
%A B Ababio-Danso
%A L Gyanfosu
%A P Amoateng
%J Journal of Medical and Biomedical Sciences
%D 2012
%I University for Development Studies
%X 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 ¨C 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 ¡Ü 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 ¡Ü 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.
%U http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jmbs/article/view/77552