A New Tool to Strengthen the Role of Pharmacists in Healthcare
The traditional role of pharmacists is to manufacture and supply medicines. In recent times, pharmacists have faced increasing demands in healthcare: an ever-widening and more complex range of medicines and the fact that patients do not properly take their prescribed medicines have led to a shift in the role of pharmacists towards a more patient-centered approach (known as pharmaceutical medicine). service). Compliance with long-term therapy for chronic conditions in developed countries averages 50%.
In response to this situation, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (IFF) are releasing the first edition of the guide “Developing Pharmaceutical Practices for Patient Care”. “Pharmacists have an important role to play in public health – much more important than drug salesmen,” said Dr Hans W. Hogerzeil, WHO Director, Medicines Policy and Standards.
The WHO/FFF ‘seven-star’ concept defines the role of the pharmacist in the following six dimensions: patient care, communication, decision-making, learning, lifelong learning, leadership and management. In the context of this guide, a seventh research feature has been added.
The pharmacist is an integral member of the medical team, performing a variety of functions from the supply and distribution of medicines to pharmaceutical care in order to ensure the best possible treatment for patients. The pharmaceutical care process involves establishing a relationship between the patient and the pharmacist, developing a science-based drug therapy plan, and then monitoring the patient’s expected health outcomes. The guidelines define good pharmaceutical practice and a stepwise approach to pharmaceutical care in general practice settings in any part of the world.
Based on the principles of the “seven-star” pharmacist concept, this interactive guide provides practical examples and service models so that it can be used for self-study. It showcases a variety of case studies to meet the needs of different users. The guide is designed for results-based learning and enables learners to complete tasks that require a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes.
“Pharmaceutical services delivered by pharmacists aim at optimizing patient outcomes and are fundamental to the efficient, rational and safe use of medicines. This guide is a timely and accessible resource for pharmacists, educators and students around the world to develop patient-centred services, and skills to meet the needs of local patients,” said Ton Hoek, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the International Pharmaceutical Federation.
Designing Pharmaceutical Practice for Patient Care is designed to meet the changing needs of pharmacists and represents a new model for pharmaceutical practice. The guide is written for pharmacists, educators and students worldwide and is intended for all healthcare settings. In order to reach the widest possible range of users, the manual will soon be available in English and French, both in electronic and printed form.