Outcome of the first Medicines Utilisation Research in Africa Group meeting to promote sustainable and rational medicine use in Africa

The first MURIA (Medicines Utilisation Research in Africa) group workshop and symposium brought researchers together from across Africa to improve their knowledge on drug utilisation (DU) methodologies as well as exchange ideas. As a result, progress DU research to formulate future strategies to enhance the rational use of medicines. Anti-infectives was the principal theme for the one day symposium following the workshops. This included presentations on the inappropriate use of antibiotics as well as ways to address this. Concerns with adverse drug reactions and adherence to anti-retroviral medicines was also discussed, with poor adherence remaining a challenge. There were also concerns with the underutilisation of generics. These discussions resulted in a number of agreed activities before the next conference in 2016