Improving access and rational use of essential medicines at all levels of care is a global challenge. Key issues related to the provision and rational use of psychotropic medicines have recently been analysed by Padmanathan et al. who conducted a survey of the psychotropic medicines management cycle in Bihar, the third most populous state of India with approximately 104 million people, of whom 88.7% live in rural areas. It was found that availability, distance and cost were the main barriers to access and utilisation. Travelling was reported to be particularly problematic because it is expensive and may also be unfeasible for service users who are acutely ill. In this commentary, the results of this survey are discussed in view of their global policy implications for low-resource settings.
Keywords: Low- and middle-income countries; psychotropic medicines; rational use.