Challenges in Pharmacy Profession: PDF Presentation

Challenges to the pharmacy profession Tuan Mazlelaa Tuan Mahmood, PhD Faculty of Pharmacy UKM  Shift in focus from product to patient Pharmaceutical care Definition: the responsible provision of drug therapy for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve a p...

Challenges to the pharmacy profession Tuan Mazlelaa Tuan Mahmood, PhD Faculty of Pharmacy UKM  Shift in focus from product to patient Pharmaceutical care Definition: the responsible provision of drug therapy for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve a patient’s quality of life’ (Hepler and Strand) A pharmacist co-operates with a patient and other professionals in designing, implementing and monitoring a therapeutic plan that will produce specific therapeutic outcomes for the patient. 5 principles: patients’ data collection; medical information evaluation; formulating a drug therapy plan; implementing the plan; monitoring and modifying the plan Under-utilisation of community pharmacists in Malaysia in providing pharmaceutical care to the general public.  Shift in focus from product to patient (cont) Training in new skills Life-long learning Specialisation – Credentialing and Privileging Systematic, evidence-based processes that provide validation to HCPs, employers, and patients that pharmacists are qualified to practice clinically. 3 main pharmacy areas: pharmacy practice, pharmacy enforcement and regulatory pharmacy E.g.: clinical pharmacokinetic, geriatric pharmacy, MTAC diabetes, MTAC warfarin  Shift in focus from product to patient (cont) Conflicts/Collaboration with other healthcare professionals A team approach for the good of the patient Our continued survival as a profession may depend on this shift in focus  Biotechnology products and gene therapy New skills in manufacturing “Tailor-made” drugs/treatment Treatment with antibodies/gene therapy Very effective Very costly  Increase in need for good quality information for our patients Knowledgeable and able to evaluate Provide unbiased information Integration with Traditional / herbal / complementary medicine Be careful that commercial interest does not become more important than professional responsibility  Use of information technology As a source of information Provision of pharmaceutical care In managing a pharmacy Fulfill the requirements of the law Re-imbursement New and innovative IT applications for pharmacy  Dispensing separation Agreement in principle and included in the National Medicines Policy. Much work needs to be done: Image Public acceptance of the role of the pharmacists Numbers and distribution National healthcare financing scheme  Changing Malaysian Healthcare Scenario National Healthcare Financing Increasing number of corporate players in the retail pharmacy sector – Jusco, Cosway Malaysian government’s economic transformation programme (ETP) 6 key entry point projects, includes health tourism and the Malaysian pharmaceutical industry. Saturation of the pharmacy workforce? New Pharmacy Act – not passed yet Thank you!