Pharmacists at the frontline beating the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

As the lockdowns are being observed all over the globe and the national level pharmacy professionals are performing frontline roles, this editorial highlights the role of pharmacists in the COVID − 19 pandemic. Pharmacists globally are providing services amidst pandemic, including TRIAGE services, seeing patients and reducing the patients' burden on health care facilities such as hospitals and GP practices. Pharmacists are also working to providing home deliveries, as well as dealing with the increasing number of patients coming through to pharmacies with the other ailments. Pharmacy associations have issued their guidelines and in this editorial, several global examples of pharmacists' role in the COVID 19 are being discussed. Pakistan is used as a country case study in this editorial. The editorial also elaborates how pharmacists in the UK and Pakistan have teamed up together to compile 10-steps protection guidelines for the pharmacy teams in Pakistan in English and Urdu language. This 10-point guidance educates community pharmacies for safety and standard operation as the number of patients in the country continues to rise. These guidelines are endorsed by the government and private bodies. These can be adopted and adapted by any country; keeping in view their laws and regulations.

COVID-19: Needs assessment of the pharmacy profession and contributions so far across the Commonwealth

“…For instance, in Pakistan, poor attention was being paid to the protection of pharmacists by organisations and authorities despite their vital role as very accessible frontline healthcare workers during the pandemic. Pharmacists in the UK and Pakistan collaborated to compile guidelines for pharmacy teams in English and the Urdu language in an attempt to assist the response [12]. On the contrary, in some countries such as New Zealand and Northern Ireland, the government has acknowledged pharmacists' contribution during the pandemic by providing extra remuneration [12,13].…”

“…Pharmacists in the UK and Pakistan collaborated to compile guidelines for pharmacy teams in English and the Urdu language in an attempt to assist the response [12]. On the contrary, in some countries such as New Zealand and Northern Ireland, the government has acknowledged pharmacists' contribution during the pandemic by providing extra remuneration [12,13]. The New Zealand Ministry of Health also produced useful resources for pharmacies including posters on infection prevention, information sheets to educate the general public about COVID-19, and educative social media images [14].…”

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prevention Services by Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia: What Do Policymakers and Opinion Leaders Think?

“…The stakeholders in this study, as did other stakeholders in previous studies in Saudi Arabia [17][18][19]44], recognised the need to build a better image of community pharmacy to enhance its pro le for engagement by consumers with any pharmacist provided health services. Indeed, during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic globally, community pharmacy has served an essential service, in managing medicine shortages, extendable supply based on prior histories in chronic conditions and upscaled handling of minor ailments in areas where primary care physician facilities were not operating [45][46][47][48][49][50]. In Saudi Arabia, pharmacists' skills have been fully utilised during the current pandemic to enhance the safety response [51].…”

“…"… the role of healthcare leader is to (a) standardise their work, (b) monitor the quality or output of their work, and (c) evaluate and compare between different sources of information or those of pharmacies with other members of healthcare team." (Pt1, M, [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]Govt. ) "…… The Ministry of Health can have a contract with a third party who is going to assess the quality of services delivered by the pharmacies and then that would be connected with a reimbursement given to such services."…”

Pharmacy Preparedness and Response for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in Aksum, Ethiopia; a Qualitative Exploration

“…Community pharmacists are vital healthcare providers during the outbreak by serving as direct points of access for their patients and on the frontline of public health. Hospital pharmacists have an important role during the outbreak in infection controls as well as patient care and support [5]. The community pharmacies continue to play their role in providing information on precautions related to COVID-19 spread.…”