Drug Utilization Pattern of Opioid Analgesics in the Oncology Departments of Yangon General Hospital

Pain is common in cancer patients, and its management relies heavily on opioid analgesics, yet local drug utilization data in developing countries like Myanmar are scarce. This study aimed to determine the drug utilization pattern of opioid analgesics in patients with cancer pain attending the Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology Departments of Yangon General Hospital. This hospital-based cross-sectional study analyzed data from 2076 cancer patients (818 inpatients, 1258 outpatients) who received at least one opioid for pain within the 3-month study period for each oncology ward. Opioid utilization was quantified using the standard Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) methodology, and Drug Utilization 90% (DU90%) was also determined. Total utilization for inpatients was 27.61 DDD/100 bed days. The inpatient DU90% comprised four agents, led by oral tramadol capsule (68.25%). Total utilization for outpatients was 109.36 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day. The outpatient DU90% consisted of three oral agents: tramadol capsule (53.68%), codeine tablet (36.18%), and morphine tablet (7.32%). Overall, the tramadol capsule was the most frequently prescribed single agent (45%). Utilization of strong opioids like morphine and fentanyl injections was generally low. The study confirms that weak oral opioids (tramadol and codeine) are the most utilized analgesics for cancer pain in this setting. These findings provide critical local data to guide rational analgesic use, improve procurement, and support future drug-supply planning in Myanmar.