Prescription sales to grow. (Short Takes).Total retail prescription drug prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, sales for 1999 are expected to exceed a record $121.6 billion, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. projections released by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. That's an 18 percent jump from the $103.5 billion in retail sales in 1998. In making its annual sales projection, NACDS NACDS National Association of Chain Drug Stores also projects an 8 percent increase in the number of prescriptions dispensed dis·pense v. dis·pensed, dis·pens·ing, dis·pens·es v.tr. 1. To deal out in parts or portions; distribute. See Synonyms at distribute. 2. To prepare and give out (medicines). 3. in the retail pharmacy marketplace. Sales of over-the-counter medications in community pharmacies are expected to reach $32 billion, an increase of 8.3 percent over the $29.5 billion in OTC OTC See: Over-the-counter. OTC See over-the-counter market (OTC). sales in 1998. The NACDS projections are based on actual store experience for the first six months of this year. Looking ahead, the association expects continuing growth in prescription volume. Major contributing factors are the increasing utilization of prescription drugs, especially by the elderly, and new medicines that enable treatment of more serious illnesses outside the hospital setting. James A. Hawkins is Publisher of Healthcare Briefings, a newsletter available in print, on cassette, via fax, and on computer disk. He car be reached at 800/338-5486. |
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