Notes From the Field: Availability of Satellite Pharmacies and Pharmacy Service Units in Nigerian Hospitals—Implications for Pharmaceutical Care

Abstract

The optimal provision of pharmaceutical care services requires an adequate number of pharmacists, satellite pharmacies and service units at healthcare facilities. We examined the availability of these requirements at Nigerian hospitals using the 2016 nationwide inspection reports of hospital pharmacies conducted by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria. Records of 254 hospitals inspected were retrieved, of which 171 (67.3%) were public. The total number of pharmacists across facilities was 753. The most common satellite pharmacy units recorded were antiretroviral 80 (31.5%) and emergency departments 48 (18.8%). The most common service units were drug revolving funds 176 (69.3%) and drug information 112 (44.1%) units. These findings suggest the availability of pharmacists, satellite pharmacies and service units are inadequate for the optimal delivery of pharmaceutical care services at healthcare facilities in Nigeria. Therefore, there is a need for interventions to improve the provision of pharmaceutical care services at health care facilities in Nigeria.

Evolving role of pharmacy technicians in pharmaceutical care services: Involvement in counselling and medication reviews

“…However, these expanded roles for pharmacists still remain elusive in most parts of Nigeria, where several obstacles have prevented their practice. 9 , 18 , 19 This may have inversely created little or no perceived need and vacuum to be filled by the expanded roles of PTs as seen in some developed countries.…”

“…However, low implementation of clinical pharmacy services by pharmacists in the country 9 , 18 , 19 potentially pose a risk of low practice of PC among PTs in Nigeria. Awareness of patient-centered care by PTs is crucial for its practice and should be considered priority.…”