COVID-19: Community Pharmacy Practice in Africa

Impact of COVID‐19 on access to healthcare in low‐ and middle‐income countries: Current evidence and future recommendations

“…In Africa, health systems have been surmounted with the various challenges posed by previous disease outbreaks such as Ebola, Zika virus, H1N1 pandemic 3 and the present COVID-19 pandemic. As the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Africa, various sectors of health systems in LMICs have been threatened including pharmacy 4 clinical, and hospital 5 sectors respectively. This will have grave consequences on the delivery of healthcare services in several LMICs in Africa as a strengthened health system is essential for ensuring better health outcomes.…”

“…To further enhance better health outcomes and strengthen inter-sectoral collaboration in light of this present pandemic in LMICs, the role of pharmacy practice as a major component and driver of the health system is crucial 4 but this is not without challenges. Due to the lockdown policies caused by COVID-19 to reduce the incidence of transmission, pharmacy practice in Africa has suffered several setbacks in optimal healthcare delivery as the pandemic has had a potential impact on drug supply, availability, affordability and movement of pharmacists and pharmacy workers.…”

“…Due to the lockdown policies caused by COVID-19 to reduce the incidence of transmission, pharmacy practice in Africa has suffered several setbacks in optimal healthcare delivery as the pandemic has had a potential impact on drug supply, availability, affordability and movement of pharmacists and pharmacy workers. 4 Before the emergence and spread of COVID-19, pharmacists have usually been the first point of contact by patients in need of healthcare services 4 but with the present situation of the pandemic, pharmacists in several LMICs in Africa are reluctant to address the needs of patients due to fear of disease contraction. 4 The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacy practice in Africa has become very pronounced.…”

“…4 Before the emergence and spread of COVID-19, pharmacists have usually been the first point of contact by patients in need of healthcare services 4 but with the present situation of the pandemic, pharmacists in several LMICs in Africa are reluctant to address the needs of patients due to fear of disease contraction. 4 The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacy practice in Africa has become very pronounced. Also, the supply chain of medicines, pharmaceutical products and PPE were greatly affected by the lockdown policy.…”

Impact of COVID-19 on Pharmacy Education

“…To tackle this shortfall in workforce capacity in Morocco, it is necessary to ensure the development of an adequately prepared health workforce that is readily accessible to respond to the growing health needs of the population. As one of the healthcare providers that are most readily accessible [4], pharmacists play a key role in responding to and addressing the population's evolving health needs. It is therefore essential to build a competent pharmaceutical workforce in Morocco with a specialized focus on pharmacy education and training.…”