Revision project of the WHO Guide to Good Prescribing

Since its launch in 1994 the WHO Guide to Good prescribing (GGP) and the accompanying Teachers Guide to Good Prescribing (2002) (TGGP) have grown to be the main documents to teach problem-based pharmacotherapy. The guide has been translated in 24 languages and local editions. Now, 25 years later, we have reviewed the need to update these documents.
They remain important due to ongoing irrational medicine use, growing problems with unavailability of medicines and the lack of similar documents. Moreover, the basic (6-step) model of the GGP is effective in terms of rational prescribing in the undergraduate situation and is still consistent with current theories about (context) learning, clinical decision-making, and clinical practice. However, there is a lack of connection with recent developments such as internet and new educational insights. The initial introduction and dissemination has been successful, but may aid from more support and cooperation. Therefore, we aim to revise the GGP and TGGP.

The project will be performed by RECIPE (Research and Expertise Center in Pharmacotherapy Education), Department Internal Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location VU University Medical Center, in close collaboration with the WHO. The project leaders are Ass. Prof. Jelle Tichelaar, Ass. Prof. Milan Richir (both Amsterdam UMC) and Dr. Sarah Garner (WHO Europe). Relevant stakeholders such as EACPT and IUPHAR will be asked to advise or support the project, for example in committees, or advisory boards or by contributing to the revision.