The Survey of Availability of Cholesterol Medications in Pharmacies in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia Based on WHO, DOEN, and Fornas Standards

Abstract

Introduction: Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Adequate availability of cholesterol-lowering medications in pharmacies is essential for prevention and treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the availability of cholesterol medications in pharmacies in Medan based on WHO, DOEN, and Fornas standards. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 100 pharmacies across 21 sub-districts of Medan in 2023 using concurrent and retrospective methods. Availability was calculated as the percentage of pharmacies stocking each medication. Results: Overall availability was relatively low. Atorvastatin 20 mg showed high availability (~90%), while several others such as atorvastatin 5 mg and fluvastatin were very low (<10%). Similar patterns were observed under DOEN and Fornas. Conclusion: There are significant gaps in the availability of cholesterol medications. Strengthening supply chains and pharmacy inventory management is recommended