Dear E-druggers,
I am contacting you for comments and advice on the following proposal which
I hope will form the basis of a major research project over the next few years.
We are all aware that the standards of pharmacy practice vary from country
to country. In most cases this is beyond any individual's control but is due
to lack of resources and expertise. In particular, many developing countries
(and other countries which might be classed as "developed") experience
difficulties in accessing quality drug information, commissioning research
which specifically addresses their needs, maintaining a supply of essential
drugs, providing continuing education support for practising pharmacists and
obtaining independent support to generate policy change.
I shall demonstrate some of these points with a simple example:-
Rifampicin syrup (eg Rifadin) is not available on a commercial basis in many
countries where TB is endemic and the drug is required to treat children who
are unable to swallow capsules. Pharmacists in such countries have to
prepare oral liquids using capsules and the stability and dose uniformity
may be sub-optimal. In such cases, to ensure the best treatment success
rate, it is vital that the pharmacist has access to the best information on
the drug's formulation and is aware of any concerns regarding the
suitability and effectiveness of the product. If there are such concerns (
and there certainly are with Rifampicin) there are obvious benefits in
providing advice, performing or co-ordinating research on that country's
behalf and supporting the pharmacist's role to optimise pharmaceutical care
within their own country.
This simple example is only the tip of a huge iceberg. It is my hypothesis
that pharmaceutical care in many countries is significantly restrained by
poor access to information, lack of research and minimal support to engender
beneficial changes in therapeutic policies. I am aware that many countries
do get some informational support from a sponsor organisation or country but
there are significant potential benefits in pooling resources and expertise
and sharing this information.
For example, I have just provided advice (about rifampicin) to a pharmacist
in PNG which will enable her to review and improve the treatment of TB in
children. No doubt numerous other countries would benefit from this exchange.
My proposal is to investigate the setting up of a Information and Research
Resource for Developing Countries.
The main objectives of this service would be to :
1. Establish a general drug information service for developing countries
targeted to their specific needs.
2. To identify potentially useful research projects and find a willing
agency to perform the work. (This may not be as difficult as it
seems; there are thousands of pharmaceutical researchers and students
looking for practical research projects which they could perform without
charge, for example, as part of a research project.
3. To co-ordinate and develop a network for the general dissemination of
this information to enhance health care worldwide.
4. To assist in the development of continuing education programmes for
pharmacists in developing countries.
5. To provide information and independent support to pharmacists and other
health practitioners who are engaged in promoting enhancements in pharmacy
practice and therapeutic policy.
I intend this project (or part of it) to form the basis of my PhD thesis. I
hope to test my hypothesis that there is a need for such a "service" and
then set up the service and evaluate its impact in various marker countries.
The ultimate objective would be provide sufficient evidence to justify
ongoing funding and support (eg from WHO etc). This sounds extremely
ambitious and I may have to scale down my objectives but information
technology will hopefully facilitate matters..
I invite your comments and suggestions on this proposal. I would especially
like to hear from pharmacists in countries who face the type of problems as
described above and from pharmacists or organisations who are involved in
providing information and support to developing countries.
At this stage I am attempting to make as many contacts as possible so I am
casting the net widely. Even if you have only the remotest interest in this
project or if you think the need is already adequately covered please
establish contact. Positive or negative feedback is welcomed !
Yours sincerely
David J Woods
Lecturer in Drug Information and Clinical Pharmacy,
School of Pharmacy
University of Otago
PO Box 913
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fax 0064 3 479 7034
e-mail david.woods@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
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