# E-DRUG: the Global Village and essential drugs **URL:** \ **Category:** e-drug\ **Created:** [September 9, 1998, 9:37pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-the-global-village-and-essential-drugs/3439 "1998-09-09T21:37:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Marthe\_Everard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Marthe\_Everard](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/Marthe_Everard)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 1998, 9:37pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-the-global-village-and-essential-drugs/3439/1 "1998-09-09T21:37:58Z")
E-DRUG: the Global Village and essential drugs (contd) ------------------------------------------------------ Wilbert, If we agree that a drug is "a chemical product with information" we may have to analyse the situation about who is supposed to prescribe and dispense these products? And why became the situation of prescribing and dispensing "we do what we want" and "do not bother me, I am a doctor and I am right"? with all the consequences of irrational drug use in the broadest sense, including delivery and administration. I may propose that we have to include the training of the two health professionals in our Global Village Approach. I keep it simple: Medical Schools are supposed to train professionals for proper diagnosing of health conditions and to inform the patient about his identified health problem(s). Schools of Pharmacy are supposed to train professionals for correct and rational prescribing/dispensing AND drug information. Unfortunately, for decades, the pharmacy profession is mainly seen as drug suppliers, persons who provide medicines over the shop counter, full stop. Let's say a business person. The ironic fact is that during the pharmacy study, hardly any business subject/topic is included in the undergraduate curriculum. This incorrect view of the pharmacist as the drug supplier, is changing. The pharmacist at community and hospital level is recognised more and more as the supplier of adequate and proper drug information to patients AND other health professionals, beside his business role. The pharmacist who was for many years excluded from the health care team, is now appearing as a valuable team member and the role of the pharmacist is being recognised (Vancouver meeting, August 1998). The main issue is the patient in our Global Village, a person in need for appropriate health care. A person who seeks information about his health situation/condition as well as medical advise from a qualified medical professional and then will seek treatment AND information for his condition from a pharmacist (a qualified pharmaceutical professional). The relationship "Medical Professional - Pharmacist" is crucial for right diagnosis - appropriate treatment AND information. As long as this relationship is not identified, accepted and established (public and individual) patient care including pharmaceutical care is in danger. An example, employment of pharmacists on wards in NHS hospitals in Scotland has proved that by recognising the pharmacist as a member of the health care team, dramatic improvements have been made in medical and pharmaceutical care of individual patients by more correct and rational prescribing of medicines (treatment agreed between medical doctor and ward pharmacist), better patient compliance resulting in higher patient satisfaction. Moreover, less prescribing mistakes were made and less drugs were wasted which lead to considerable savings in the hospital drug expenditures. (Most of the hospitals in Scotland work with drug formularies (limited drug lists, the majority of the drugs are essential drugs) and treatment guidelines which are used by pharmacists and medical doctors). I may conclude that the pharmacist is the professional who is the qualified provider of relevant and appropriate drug information. The Global Village should include the review of the roles of the two health professionals, medical doctor and pharmacist, and that general perception and common practice have to be modified to respond adequately to the health needs of the patients. Marthe M. Everard Manager of WHO Collaborating Centre The Robert Gordon University School of Pharmacy Schoolhill Aberdeen AB10 1FR Scotland United Kingdom Tel: #44-1224-262533 Fax: #44-1224-262555 E-mail address: m.everard@rgu.ac.uk -- Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'. Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'. For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.