Current pharmacy practices in low- and middle-income countries; recommendations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Hamid, Husnain; Masood, Rizwan; Tariq, Hira; Khalid, Wahab; Rashid, Muhammad Ateeb; Munir, Muhammad Usman

doi:10.1007/s40267-020-00745-7

Cited by 15 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Studies conducted in low-income and middle-income countries were also excluded due to differences in health systems and regulation of community pharmacies and pharmacy professionals as compared with high-income countries (table 1). 41 Articles were screened in two phases. Two investigators (JN and CAH) independently screened titles and abstracts of studies for eligibility.…”

Section: Screening and Study Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual and reproductive health services provided by community pharmacists: a scoping review

et al. 2021

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ObjectivesPharmacists are increasingly providing patient-focused services in community pharmacies, including in the area of sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Specific SRH areas have been the focus of research, but a broader perspective is needed to position pharmacists as SRH providers. This review explored research that described and evaluated professional pharmacy services across a broad range of SRH areas.DesignScoping reviewData sourcesMedline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Library (January 2007–July 2020).Study selectionStudies reporting on the description and evaluation of professional pharmacy SRH services provided by community pharmacists.Data extractionTwo investigators screened studies for eligibility, and one investigator extracted the data. Data were analysed to primarily describe professional pharmacy services and intervention outcomes.ResultsForty-one studies were included. The main SRH areas and professional pharmacy services reported were sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections (63%) and screening (39%), respectively. Findings showed that pharmacists’ delivery of SRH services was feasible, able to reach vulnerable and high-risk groups, and interventions were highly accepted and valued by users. However, integration into daily workflow, pharmacist remuneration, cost and reimbursement for patients, and policy regulations were some of the barriers identified to implementing SRH services. Studies were primarily in specific areas such as chlamydia screening or hormonal contraception prescribing, while studies in other areas (ie, medical abortion provision, long-acting reversible contraception prescribing and vaccine delivery in pregnant women) were lacking.ConclusionThis scoping review highlights the expansion of pharmacists’ roles beyond traditional product-focused services in a number of SRH areas. Given the potential feasibility, users’ acceptability and reach, pharmacists are ideally situated to enhance SRH care access. Future research describing implementation and evaluation of professional pharmacy services in all SRH areas is needed to promote access to these services through community pharmacies and position pharmacists as SRH providers worldwide.

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Section: Screening and Study Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual and reproductive health services provided by community pharmacists: a scoping review

et al. 2021

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“…The six-step analysis framework by Braun & Clarke was used as a guiding methodology for performing a re exive, thematic analysis as shown in Figure 1. Our analysis method was also in uenced by the constant comparison method of grounded theory and was followed in the later stages of the analysis to compare independent themes amongst the three researchers (AI, GG, VR) and a eld expert (RH) in carrying out the re exive thematic analysis [28].…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there is a lack of utilisation of pharmacy services in many LMICs across the Commonwealth (and beyond) as compared to high income countries. Increased health care services utilisation will not result in better outcomes if pharmacy services are not adequately developed to support health care systems, especially if the quality of medicines and pharmaceutical services is low [17]. FIP recognises the critical role the pharmacy profession and identi es a particular need and opportunity for pharmacists to be effectively utilised to increase access to safe, quality medications that can save lives.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

National Pharmacy Associations in the Commonwealth -current scenario and future needs to maximise effective contributions of the pharmacy profession towards Universal health coverage

Iqbal

Rutter²,

Gülpınar

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: The Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) is a charity representing pharmacists across the Commonwealth, with the vision of empowering and collaboratively develop the profession and fully utilise the potential of pharmacists to strengthen health systems through supporting better access to, quality and use of medicines and related services. Commonwealth comprises predominantly of low and middle-income countries where limited data often exists in pharmacy practice. There is a recognised need across the Commonwealth to focus on developing, implementing and fully utilising pharmacy professional services to progress universal health coverage and achieve the sustainable development goals, particularly in low and middle-income countries; however, currently a knowledge gap exists in understanding the national priorities in Commonwealth nations. CPA is ideally positioned to access to these nations. The aim of this study was thus to explore the priorities and focus areas of NPAs across the Commonwealth and create evidence for a needs-based approach to inform the support that the Commonwealth pharmacists association can collaboratively and strategically provide to its members to progress towards shared goals.Methods: Data was collected virtually on Zoom by conducting interviews using a semi-structured interview guide developed for this study with CPA councillors representing NPAs or their equivalents if no official body existed. An inductive, reflexive, thematic analysis was performed for data analysis. Results: In total, 30 councillors were interviewed from 30 low- and medium-income countries. The three main overarching priority areas identified across respective Commonwealth nations developing extended pharmacy services, improving pharmacy education, and developing and redefining the role of NPAs.Conclusions: This novel study highlights the collective priorities for the pharmacy profession across the low and middle-income countries of the Commonwealth and the urgent need for supporting NPAs around the three identified overarching priority areas. The mapped-out priorities will inform an evidence-based approach for the CPA to better support NPAs in their mission through advocacy and practitioner development, to fully harness pharmacists’ unique skill set and maximise their contribution to progressing universal health coverage.

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“…LMICs will probably be overburdened by COVID-19 because of the lack of public awareness about preventive measures, expertise, infrastructure, and human resources as well as the poor financial status of the country. Hence, LMICs must give priority to science-based precautionary measures in the pre-disaster phase and science-based counseling and treatment during and after the pandemic [ 1 ].…”

Section: Burden On Healthcare Systems During Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The mortality and morbidity rates of COVID-19 continue to climb each day, putting healthcare systems and healthcare professionals/providers (HCPs) at risk. Currently, the healthcare systems of low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) are unable to cope with these extremely difficult circumstances [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current burden on healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries: recommendations for emergency care of COVID-19

Hamid

Abid

Amir

et al. 2020

Drugs Ther Perspect

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Current pharmacy practices in low- and middle-income countries; recommendations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Cited by 15 publications

References 10 publications

Sexual and reproductive health services provided by community pharmacists: a scoping review

Sexual and reproductive health services provided by community pharmacists: a scoping review

National Pharmacy Associations in the Commonwealth -current scenario and future needs to maximise effective contributions of the pharmacy profession towards Universal health coverage

Current burden on healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries: recommendations for emergency care of COVID-19

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