How to link patients with suspicious COVID-19 to health system from the community pharmacies? A route proposal

Response to the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic Across Africa: Successes, Challenges, and Implications for the Future

“…In addition, should be provided with any necessary PPE including face shields and googles • Hospital pharmacists should be involved in educating patients/staff on COVID-19 management especially on non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions • Where appropriate, pharmacist should be encouraged to prepare costeffective WHO-recommended hand sanitizers for their facilities • In the community, pharmacists have a vital role as they are often the first healthcare professional that patients contact regarding respiratory/ influenza diseases especially in countries with high patient copayments, concerns with access to ambulatory healthcare facilities as well as issues of affordability to pay for a physician and their medicines (Markovic-Pekovic et al, 2017;Mukokinya et al, 2018;Adunlin et al, 2020;Al-Quteimat and Amer, 2020;Godman et al, 2020a). This includes encouraging self care/ hygiene measures including the supplying and wearing of masks and the need for regular hand washing as well as trying to protect patients against stock-outs of pertinent medicines (Al-Quteimat and Amer, 2020; Amariles et al, 2020;Haque et al, 2020;Ung, 2020) • Community pharmacists can also discuss appropriate treatments including arguing against the need for antibiotics where this is a concern and encouraging appropriate referral where possible (Mukokinya et al, 2018;Amariles et al, 2020;Godman et al, 2020a) • Community pharmacists and others can also push for extended supply of medicines where appropriate as well as help engage in discussions regarding adherence to medicines using different technologies especially given ongoing concerns with adherence to medicines without regular input from pharmacists and other professionals (Al-Quteimat and Amer, 2020; Kretchy et al, 2020;Zheng S. Q. et al, 2020). • Pharmacists can also suggest alternative approaches during times of medicine shortages including potential OTC treatments (Cadogan and Hughes, 2020).…”

Provision of community pharmacy services during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross sectional study of community pharmacists’ experiences with preventative measures and sources of information

“…Since the outbreak of COVID-19, pharmacists like other health professionals, have been at the frontline of combating the disease and remained open, therefore playing a significant role in minimizing or avoiding its "community transmission" [8]. Pharmacists are currently involved not only in the provision of medication, COVID-19 prevention products, and medical equipment supplies, but also offering health information related to COVID-19.…”

Pharmacists’ perceived barriers towards delivering their emergency roles during the COVID-19 pandemic and perceived policymakers’ responsibilities

“…The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) released a guideline on the 19th of March 2020 clarifying the required coronavirus information for pharmacists and the pharmacy workforce [ 13 ], acknowledging the responsibilities put upon the pharmacists in the control of the COVID-19 outbreak [ 13 ]. New roles and responsibilities included the stable supply of key medicines and preventative products, provision of information about the coronavirus pandemic, performing early detection of cases via patient questioning about signs and symptoms, appropriately referring patients, providing sufficient tailored staff training, providing psychological support to patients [ 14 , 15 ], and implementing governmental and policymaker mandated procedures [ 16 , 17 ]. Pharmacists were also expected to play a role in promoting a culture of empathy, by helping prevent the stigmatization of infected individuals based on ethnicity, population or nationality, and by broadcasting COVID-19 facts in their communities via various media [ 18 ].…”