Saudi Arabia curbs tranquilliser prescribing

Urgent action is needed to curb the excessive prescribing and use of tranquillisers and hypnotics in Saudi Arabia, said its health minister, Dr Osama Shabakshi, last week. The health ministry is considering setting up a national computer network to link all pharmacies, hospitals, and primary health centres. This will make it easier to identify patients who have been prescribed such drugs and more difficult for people to get drugs from more than one source.

The health ministry is anxious to avoid giving the impression that there is an epidemic …