Beating non-communicable diseases in primary health care: The contribution of pharmacists and guidance from FIP to support WHO goals

Pinto, Gonçalo Sousa; Bader, Lina; Billberg, Kristina; Criddle, Deirdre; Duggan, Catherine; Gharat, Manjiri S.; Hogue, Michael D.; Jacinto, Isabel Pimenta; Oyeneyin, Yetunde; Zhou, Ying; Laven, Anna

doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2019.10.008

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Overall across Asia, pharmacies are often the main source of healthcare for patients given lack of waiting times, extended opening hours, and high co-payment levels (103,115,(127)(128)(129)(130)(131), mirroring the situation in other countries (132)(133)(134). Consequently, community pharmacists have a key role to play in current and future pandemics.…”

Section: General and Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid Assessment of Price Instability and Paucity of Medicines and Protection for COVID-19 Across Asia: Findings and Public Health Implications for the Future

Godman

Haque

Islam

et al. 2020

Front. Public Health

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Background: Countries have introduced a variety of measures to prevent and treat COVID-19 with medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE), with some countries adopting preventative strategies earlier than others. However, there has been considerable controversy surrounding some treatments. This includes hydroxychloroquine where the initial hype and misinformation lead to shortages, price rises and suicides. Price rises and shortages have also been seen for PPE. Such activities can have catastrophic effects on patients where there are high co-payment levels and issues of affordability. Consequently, there is a need to investigate this further.Objective: Assess changes in the availability, utilization and prices of relevant medicines and PPE during the pandemic among a range of Asian countries.Our approach: Narrative literature review combined with interviews among community pharmacists to assess changes in consumption, prices and shortages of medicines and PPE from the beginning of March 2020 until end of May 2020. In addition, suggestions on ways to reduce misinformation.Results: 308 pharmacists took part from five Asian countries. There was an appreciable increase in the utilization of antimicrobials in Pakistan (in over 88% of pharmacies), with lower increases or no change in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Vietnam. Encouragingly, there was increased use of vitamins/immune boosters and PPE across the countries, as well as limited price rises for antimicrobials in India, Malaysia and Vietnam, although greater price rises seen for analgesics and vitamin C/immune boosters. Appreciable price increases were also seen for PPE across some countries.Conclusion: Encouraging to see increases in utilization of vitamins/immune boosters and PPE. However, increases in the utilization and prices of antimicrobials is a concern that needs addressing alongside misinformation and any unintended consequences from the pandemic. Community pharmacists can play a key role in providing evidence-based advice, helping to moderate prices, as well as helping address some of the unintended consequences of the pandemic.

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Section: General and Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid Assessment of Price Instability and Paucity of Medicines and Protection for COVID-19 Across Asia: Findings and Public Health Implications for the Future

Godman

Haque

Islam

et al. 2020

Front. Public Health

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“…Overall, community pharmacists in India play a crucial role in optimizing the use of medicines and improving patient outcomes whilst seeking to prevent the misuse of medicines (Mohathasim Billah and Venkatesan, 2017;Abdulsalim et al, 2018). This is similar to their roles in other countries where they are often the first healthcare professional patients consult regarding their illness, and they are increasingly involved in the management of chronic and other diseases (Khanal et al, 2016;Markovic-Pekovic et al, 2017;Akutey et al, 2018;Sousa Pinto et al, 2020). The cost of medicines to patients in India have been helped in recent years by ongoing reforms since 2013 to fix prices for essential medicines as well as encourage the prescribing of generic medicines where possible (HealthWorld, 2016;BioVoice, 2018;Pavithra, 2019).…”

Section: Introduction/backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In view of the contribution of the costs of medicines to total healthcare costs in India, coupled with existing high co-payments for visiting physicians and funding medicines, community pharmacies have and will continue to play an appreciable role in managing patients in India ( Abdulsalim et al, 2018 ; Daftary et al, 2019 ; Nafade et al, 2019 ; Abdulsalim et al, 2020 ; Sousa Pinto et al, 2020 ). Key reasons include avoiding paying physician fees, especially for milder symptoms, accessibility with long opening hours, and a lack of queues compared with ambulatory care clinics ( Soumya et al, 2016 ; Mohathasim Billah and Venkatesan, 2017 ; Daftary et al, 2019 ).…”

Section: Introduction/backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilisation, Availability and Price Changes of Medicines and Protection Equipment for COVID-19 Among Selected Regions in India: Findings and Implications

Haque

Kumar²,

Charan

et al. 2021

Front. Pharmacol.

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Background: COVID-19 has already claimed a considerable number of lives worldwide. However, there are concerns with treatment recommendations given the extent of conflicting results with suggested treatments and misinformation, some of which has resulted in increased prices and shortages alongside increasing use and prices of personal protective equipment (PPE). This is a concern in countries such as India where there have been high patient co-payments and an appreciable number of families going into poverty when members become ill. However, balanced against pricing controls. Community pharmacists play a significant role in disease management in India, and this will remain. Consequently, there is a need to review prices and availability of pertinent medicines during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in India to provide future direction.Objective: Assess current utilisation and price changes as well as shortages of pertinent medicines and equipment during the early stages of the pandemic.Our Approach: Multiple approach involving a review of treatments and ongoing activities across India to reduce the spread of the virus alongside questioning pharmacies in selected cities from early March to end May 2020.Our Activities: 111 pharmacies took part, giving a response rate of 80%. Encouragingly, no change in utilisation of antimalarial medicines in 45% of pharmacies despite endorsements and for antibiotics in 57.7% of pharmacies, helped by increasing need for a prescription for dispensing. In addition, increased purchasing of PPE (over 98%). No price increases were seen for antimalarials and antibiotics in 83.8 and 91.9% of pharmacies respectively although shortages were seen for antimalarials in 70.3% of pharmacies, lower for antibiotics (9.9% of pharmacies). However, price increases were typically seen for PPE (over 90% of stores) as well as for analgesics (over 50% of pharmacies). Shortages were also seen for PPE (88.3%).Conclusion: The pandemic has impacted on utilisation and prices of pertinent medicines and PPE in India but moderated by increased scrutiny. Key stakeholder groups can play a role with enhancing evidenced-based approaches and reducing inappropriate purchasing in the future.

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“…The International Pharmaceutical Federation has been constantly advocating for a continuous and expanded involvement of pharmacists in primary care and the prevention and treatment of chronic illnesses 22 . For this goal to be achieved, well‐trained pharmacy personnel should be accessible to patients in countries like Pakistan where trained pharmacist services are significantly needed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives on an amended law addressing pharmacists' availability in community pharmacies

Qadeer

Amin

2020

Evaluation Clinical Practice

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Rationale, aims, and objectives Little attention has been given to perceptions of pharmacist availability and role in the community setting following policy changes. The Pakistani model is particularly interesting as it encompasses three different pharmacy practice licensure types with major differences in credentials, training, and role. Guided by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), this study examined factors associated with the availability of pharmacists in the community setting in Pakistan following the implementation of a new policy regulating pharmacist presence in community pharmacies. Methods Fifteen participants were interviewed in three Pakistani cities (Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar). Those included pharmacy licence holders (types A, B, and C), non‐pharmacist owners and a pharmacist inspector who were purposively sampled to assure variance in education, gender, time in practice, and geographic location. Directed content analysis was performed based on the TPB framework. Description of themes came after discussions among the two authors. Results Findings indicated a discrepancy between participants about the value of having a pharmacist present with pharmacists showing more appreciation of the value they would provide. Participants felt that the new policy is attempting to change a norm that has existed for a long time. They also pointed to logistical challenges in making a pharmacist available including the feasibility of having a pharmacist present, the financial burden of hiring a pharmacist, and difficulty in enforcing the law uniformly across different geographical areas. Participants were concerned that some type A licence holders sensed that practicing in the community setting and the act of selling medications was beneath their social status as pharmacists. Conclusion A set of factors contribute to the availability of pharmacists in community pharmacies in Pakistan. The change in law should be supplemented with other interventions that contribute to making well‐trained pharmacy personnel available for serving patrons.

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Beating non-communicable diseases in primary health care: The contribution of pharmacists and guidance from FIP to support WHO goals

Cited by 12 publications

References 15 publications

Rapid Assessment of Price Instability and Paucity of Medicines and Protection for COVID-19 Across Asia: Findings and Public Health Implications for the Future

Rapid Assessment of Price Instability and Paucity of Medicines and Protection for COVID-19 Across Asia: Findings and Public Health Implications for the Future

Utilisation, Availability and Price Changes of Medicines and Protection Equipment for COVID-19 Among Selected Regions in India: Findings and Implications

Perspectives on an amended law addressing pharmacists' availability in community pharmacies

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