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THE FUTURE OF PHARMACY

INTERNATIONAL PHARMACY JOURNAL

Thailand is one of the countries where a “dispensing doctor and prescribing pharma - cist” phenomenon is rampant , both in urban and rural areas. Moreover, all public and private hospitals, no matter how big or small they are, fill prescriptions by themselves. Meanwhile, the number of prescription drugs announced by the Drug Act 1967 is limited compared to the number of pharma - cist- only drugs. Consequently, filling pre - scription is not the main source of income for community pharmacies. Customers seeking care from pharmacies pay out- of- pocket . Besides, most of pharmacies illegally dispense pharmacist-only drugs without the presence of pharmacist- in- charge. Conse - quently, pharmacy ’s roles are perceived as selling drugs, not providing professional services.

In or d e r t o en c o u r a g e co m m u n i t y p h a r m a c i e s t o ke e p up wit h p r of e s s i o n a l s t a n d a r d s , t h e Pha r m a c y Coun c i l a nn o u n c e d it s vo l u nt a r y Accr e d i t a t i o n S c h e m e in 2 0 0 3 . The Accr e d i t a t i o n St a n d a r d s p o s s e s s p r of e s s i o n a l is s u e s not m a n d a t e d by t h e D r u g Act , fo r e x a m p l e s , p a t i e nt co u n - s e l i n g , dr u g m o n i t o r i n g , co m m u n i t y p a r t i c i p a t i o n , id e nt i f y - i n g p a t i e nt ’ s n e e d , co nt i n u i n g p r of e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e nt in c l u din g s t a f f e m p o w e r m e nt a n d s o fo r t h . The Coun c i l ’ s a im is t o p e r s u a d e t h e gr o u p of p h a r m a c i s t - o w n e d p h a r m a c i e s , a b o u t 3 , 0 0 0 p h a r m a c i e s , t o jo i n t h e S c h e m e .

Alt h o u g h t h e Tha i Foo d a n d D r u g Admini s t r a t i o n (Tha iFDA) ha s wo r k e d wit h t h e Coun c i l t o p u s h fo r w a r d t h e Accr e - d i t a t i o n S c h e m e sin c e t h e b e g i n n i n g , t h e y ha v e n ot got p a r t i c i p a t i o n f r o m p h a r m a c i e s a s e x p e c t e d . Alt h o u g h , t h e t r e n d is r i s i n g (Fig . 1 ) cur r e nt l y, t h e r e a r e o nl y 45 7 a c c r e dit e d QIBSNBDJFT

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a c c r e d i t e d p h a r m a c i e s c a n b e fo u n d in e v e r y sin g l e pr o v i n c e , B a n g k o k h a s t h e m o s t – 15 3 p h a r m a c i e s . A tot a l p o p u l a t i o n sur v e y sh o w e d p r o b l e m s of mi s u n d e r s t a n d i n g s , la c k of co m m u n i c a t i o n , n o cl e a r in c e nt i v e a n d t h e su s t a i n a b i l i t y of t h e S c h e m e et c . 1 Howe v e r, t h e Commun i t y Pha r m a c y Ass o - c i a t i o n (Tha il a n d ) (CPA) aim s t o r e a c h 1 , 0 0 0 by t h e e n d of 2 0 13 by usi n g m o r e int e r a c t i v e co m m u n i c a t i o n .

In or d e r t o ha v e co m m o n p e r s p e c t i v e s a m o n g s t a k e h o l d e r s , a ro a d m a p t o w a r d s a c c r e d i t e d p h a r m a c y wa s d e v e l o p e d in 2 0 0 5 (Fig . 2 ) sh o w i n g a num b e r of p r o g r a m s t o b e co n d u c t e d . The bl o c k t h a t ha s b e e n co nt r o v e r s i a l , y e t p e r s e v e r i n g l y p e r f o r m e d , is t h e “ int e g r a t e a c c r e d i t e d p h a r m a c y int o h e a l t h in s u r a n c e s c h e m e ” ( b l o c k num b e r 1 ) , whi c h will b e el a b o r a t e d in t h e n e x t s e c t i o n .

Integration of the accredited pharmacy into health insurance schemes Thail a n d h a s cl a i m e d fo r t h e su c c e s s in uni v e r s a l h e a l t h co v e r a g e sin c e 2 0 0 1 . Tho s e h e a l t h s e r v i c e s a r e e xc l u s i v e l y QSPWJEFE
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r e s p e c t i v e l y. Pha r m a c i e s in Tha il a n d t r a d i t i o n a l l y f un c t i o n in s e p a r a t i o n of t h e co u nt r y ’ s h e a l t h in s u r a n c e s c h e m e s .

CHANGES IN COMMUNITY PHARMACY POLICY HOW ARE WE CREATING IT IN THAILAND?

Duangtip Hongsamoot