A Survey of the Role of Community Pharmacists in Dhaka city, Bangladesh

Abstract

Community pharmacists play a vital role in improving medication safety and better healthcare facility to the community. Unfortunately, the field of community pharmacy in Bangladesh is still to be developed and there is scarcity of data regarding current role of community pharmacists in Bangladesh. The present study was conducted to find out the role of community pharmacists in Bangladesh. For the study purpose, we visited 42 retail pharmacies in Banani, Khilkhet and Uttra areas of Dhaka city and interviewed the community pharmacists working there. We found that there were total 50 community pharmacists in 42 retail pharmacy and also observed that most of the pharmacists (64%) worked alone. Interestingly, we didn’t find a single A-grade pharmacist working as community pharmacist. B-grade pharmacists who completed a 3 year diploma in pharmacy were only 4 in number and 92% of them were C-grade pharmacists with 3-4 months training. The average age of the participants was 29.6 ± 1.2 years. The average length of service for the community pharmacists was 7.6 ± 1.3 years. The top issues that patients consulted with the pharmacists were on medication use (76%), which physician they should visit (54%) and therapy (26%). There was not a significant effect of work experience of community pharmacists on their attitudes toward community-based clinical services. In this study, we observed that 95% community pharmacies provide blood pressure measurement facility, 90% provide diabetes screening, 76% provide dressing services, and only 47% provide nebulization. No community pharmacist was found to be involved with adverse drug reaction reporting. In conclusion, we recommend that the government and the pharmacy regulatory authority should take sufficient initiatives to develop the community pharmacy sector in Bangladesh for the welfare of mankind.Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 18(2): 137-141, 2015

Attitudes and practices of community pharmacists and barriers to their participation in public health activities in Yemen: mind the gap

“…Among the medical tests commonly conducted by community pharmacists were blood pressure, glucose and pregnancy tests. The educational activities conducted by community pharmacists for their patients as part of the public health activities were consistent with the activities provided by the community pharmacists in other low- and middle-income countries [31]. Agomo et al reported that the literature revealed that services such as smoking cessation, health promotion, provision of hormonal contraceptives and preventive activities provided by pharmacists have benefited the community [32].…”

“…By offering these screening tests, the community pharmacists may assist patients with diagnosis and therapy. The provided medical tests were similar to the services offered by community pharmacists in Dhaka, Bangladesh [31].…”

Evaluation of medicines dispensing pattern of private pharmacies in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

“…In developing countries like BANGLADESH, people depend more on pharmacies due to expediency, shorter waiting time, cost reduction, availability of credit and flexible opening hours [ 11 , 12 ]. Here some drug seller also provide clinical services to patients with chronic disease even manages mild non severe trauma [ 13 ].…”

“…Though there are previous studies in BANGLADESH which demonstrated increased self medication tendency [ 14 ] and role of community pharmacists [ 13 ] but this was the first study which focused on both drug dispensing pattern of the pharmacy and tried to shed light on the contribution of pharmacies in irrational drug use.…”

Southern Yemeni Pharmacy Dispensers ' Understanding, Attitudes and Perceived Barriers Related to Pharmaceutical Care

“…21 About 51.5% of the pharmacists engaged in health screening activities, such as blood pressure measurement, the result is comparable with the study carried out in Aden city 9 and in Bangladesh. 22 The community pharmacies rarely or seldom created a personal medication record for their customers. The reporting and documenting of the patient's history is a must because it helps to monitor the progress of the disease, reporting any adverse drug reaction and other drug-related problems.…”