[e-drug] Essential medicine policies to promote rational/quality use of medicines (5)

e-drug
1

E-DRUG: Essential medicine policies to promote rational/quality use of medicines (5)
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Dear E-Druggers
I agree that there is a need for an open-access, downloadable,
international, online version of a formulary in a modifiable format that
would facilitate development of national formularies. Some countries do
produce their own national formularies. However a major obstacle to their
effectiveness is that they are often not implemented properly. The
situation is similar for standard treatment guidelines (STGs) and essential
medicines lists (EMLs). For example, they may not be included in the
curricula of medical schools or in in-service training.

Books/booklets (of the EML or STGs) may not be distributed to health facilities or prescribers - who do not have reliable internet access to use them online at work.

While EMLs are often used in central procurement for public sector primary
care, they are often not used in insurance reimbursement (even governmental
insurance) or in local procurement by public sector hospitals. Sometimes
there are inconsistencies between medicines included in EMLs, formularies
and STGs.

Often the development of these documents does not involve
end-users, who may not therefore believe in them or use them. It was
because many countries stated that they were not fully implementing STGs
and EMLs (in WHO surveys of 2003, 2007 and 2011) that I was able to make a
comparison of medicines use in those countries implementing (prescriber
training and distribution of booklets) and not implementing these policies.

Three WHO datasets have now consistently shown that implementation of EMLs,
STGs and formularies are associated with better use, but not simply the
existence of updated EMLs and STGs. Similarly many other essential
medicines policies are associated with better use as mentioned in my
previous email but many countries are not implementing them. Unfortunately
data on medicines policy implementation is scarce and not routinely
collected. Surely, it is time that all countries make efforts to ensure
proper implementation of such essential medicines policies and monitor
implementation.

Regards, Kathy

Dr Kathleen Holloway
Institute of Development Studies
University of Sussex, UK
Email: kaholloway54@gmail.com

2

E-DRUG: Essential medicine policies to promote rational/quality use of
medicines (5)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear E-Druggers
I agree that there is a need for an open-access, downloadable,
international, online version of a formulary in a modifiable format that
would facilitate development of national formularies. Some countries do
produce their own national formularies. However a major obstacle to their
effectiveness is that they are often not implemented properly. The
situation is similar for standard treatment guidelines (STGs) and essential
medicines lists (EMLs). For example, they may not be included in the
curricula of medical schools or in in-service training.

Books/booklets (of the EML or STGs) may not be distributed to health
facilities or prescribers - who do not have reliable internet access to use
them online at work.

While EMLs are often used in central procurement for public sector primary
care, they are often not used in insurance reimbursement (even governmental
insurance) or in local procurement by public sector hospitals. Sometimes
there are inconsistencies between medicines included in EMLs, formularies
and STGs.

Often the development of these documents does not involve
end-users, who may not therefore believe in them or use them. It was
because many countries stated that they were not fully implementing STGs
and EMLs (in WHO surveys of 2003, 2007 and 2011) that I was able to make a
comparison of medicines use in those countries implementing (prescriber
training and distribution of booklets) and not implementing these policies.

Three WHO datasets have now consistently shown that implementation of EMLs,
STGs and formularies are associated with better use, but not simply the
existence of updated EMLs and STGs. Similarly many other essential
medicines policies are associated with better use as mentioned in my
previous email but many countries are not implementing them. Unfortunately
data on medicines policy implementation is scarce and not routinely
collected. Surely, it is time that all countries make efforts to ensure
proper implementation of such essential medicines policies and monitor
implementation.

Regards, Kathy

Dr Kathleen Holloway
Institute of Development Studies
University of Sussex, UK
Email: kaholloway54@gmail.com

3

E-DRUG: The Need for an Evidence-Based Encyclopaedia in Health Services Research in Pharmacy
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Dear E-druggers

My best wishes for everyone during these difficult times !

During COVID times, generating evidence is becoming vital to make decisions.

This editorial explains the importance of pharmacy practice research /health services research in pharmacy and build the case for an evidence based encyclopedia in this field.

Anyone interested to involve in the project can contact me directly. The full text editorial is available from the publisher's website (open access). Also copied below for the fair use.

“The Need for an Evidence-Based Encyclopaedia in Health Services Research in Pharmacy"
Read the whole article here:
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/7/2549/htm

Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar
<https://sciprofiles.com/profile/1035855&gt;

Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice Research, Department of Pharmacy, University of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD1 3DH, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(7), 2549; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072549 (registering DOI)

Published: 8 April 2020

Abstract
Pharmacy practice research (PPR) is a specialty field within the wider area of health services research and it focuses on studies of how and why people access pharmacy services. This stream of research is also referred to as more universally recognized term such as health services research in pharmacy. The health services research in pharmacy has increased manifold; however, the impact of this research is not visible at the global level.

The editorial explains several issues on quality and quantity of evidence produced including how evidence produced could contribute to improve quality of care and patients’ health outcomes. It also narrates examples from the UK and Australia showing how health services research in pharmacy has made an impact on healthcare service delivery. The editorial argues that building an encyclopaedia in health services research in pharmacy is vital to enhance the visibility and impact of this research.

Kind Regards
Zaheer

Professor Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar BPharm MPharm PhD SFHEA
Professor in Medicines and Healthcare
Director, Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice Research
Department of Pharmacy, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, HD1 3DH
Huddersfield, United Kingdom
Zaheer Babar <Z.Babar@hud.ac.uk>