E-drug: pharmacy drivers (cont)
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I agree with the principles which underpin the comments made by
Peter. We should regard pharmacy drivers/ delivery personnel as a
resource which has the potential to improve health care. Rather
than being limited by the existing drug supply model in which the
pharmacy driver is just another link in the delivery system, we
should consider a drug use model, in which the pharmacy driver
has the potential to receive and transmit information to and from
patients. This raises the question of "what competencies should a
pharmacy driver possess in addition to a valid driver licence?" It
also challenges the pharmacy manager to address the question of
"what are the training and development needs of my pharmacy
drivers?"
We are constantly reminded that pharmacy must move away from
its preoccupation with product and shift towards the patient. In my
opinion, a product orientation provides a narrow perspective and
limits the potential effective use of pharmacy personnel.
Billy
Billy Futter
Associate Professor
Faculty of Pharmacy
Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
email B.Futter@ru.ac.za
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