E-DRUG: To dispense or not to dispense (cont)
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Hello E-druggers,
The issue of prescribing doctors has serious implications for pharmacists
(and for patients) particularly in developing countries. In many of these
countries the role of pharmacists in health care is being eroded and other
professionals (and also non-professionals) are taking up bits of the
profession. Pharmacists themselves have to take a good part of the blame
for this situation. The business aspect of pharmacy practice has assumed
greater prominence over the health care aspect. Many people in developing
countries see private pharmacists as retailers like in any other trade and
this sadly includes also politicians. Pharmacists have a great job to do to
show the importance of their role and defend their profession.
Politicians are silent because pharmacists themselves are not doing much
more than whispering complaints.
Richard Laing has made some very good suggestions to help solve "the
problem" . But we also need to educate pharmacists to restore their image
as health care professionals. They should not be seen as "the people
on the other side of the counter cashing money in exchange of pills, creams
etc.". They should not prescribe in retaliation of dispensing doctors; but
they should play an active role in the care and counseling of
customers/patients; in some countries, given the shortage of physicians,
this would result in great advantage for the health care system and for the
profession.
I do not see an easy and quick solution unless you can get the Government
to change regulations. In some countries this is not very likely.
Physicians have a greater political weight and influence on the general
public and in the political arena. So you have to be ready for long-term
solution. I do not know the situation in Swaziland, but in some other
countries that I have visited, I believe pharmacists need inter alia
strong professional associations with good strategies to win greater
recognition for the pharmacy profession and refresher courses for
practising pharmacists especially with regard to ethics and patient care
and counseling.
I am a late comer in this discussion. I hope I am not repeating aspects
which have already been discussed.
Abdullahi
Abdullahi Elmi
Somali Group for Rational Use of Drugs
<Somali_drugs@yahoo.com>
[Welcome, Abdullahi, to E-drug! No you're not too late!
Other question: can you explain a bit to other E-druggers what the Somali
Group for Rational Use of Drugs is doing? Are you working in Somalia? What
is the drug situation in Somalia at present? WB]
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