E-DRUG: Dispensing drugs at petrol stations? (2)
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Dear Alphonse
I recall that this topic was discussed in May 1998 but at a
time the theme was 'policy on siting pharmacies".
In principle there is few reasons why a pharmacy cannot be
sited in a petrol station complex. However in order for you
to have the correct information at hand it would be best to
study the impact of the decision (accepting that pharmacies
be sited in petrol stations). You can talk to your local
school of Pharmacy to have a research project on this topic
or develop a proposal yourself with international partners
for a comprehensive impact assessment study covering:
financial, commercial, ecological, occupational, social and
eveironmental aspects. Meanwhile if you need to make
decisions in the short-term, my advice would be to develop
a checklist that would enable you to decide impartially or
at least consistently. The checklist could have the format
below:
*Distance from the actual petrol station to the pharmacies:
your ideal should be at 200 meters (my own suggestion!): if
too close, the risk of exposure to exhaust pollutants will
increase, the noise from some cars; the look/outlook of the
pharmacy
*Subdivisions of the compartment in the traditional rooms
for a retail pharmacies: use usual criteria
*Population served (community needs): enough to sustain the
business
*Professional requirement for a full-time pharmacist
*Facilities/mechanisms for fire-prevention
*Security issues
* and others.
Hope you get some help.
Gustav N Malangu BPharm MSc
MEDUNSA
South Africa
gustavnm@webmail.co.za
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