CADANGAN VISI 2010 UNTUK
PERKHIDMATAN FARMASI
(Hospital
Kota Belud)
In the year 2010, the population of the District of
Kota Belud is estimated to increase to one hundred percent its present
population, as we can see from the population trend (refer chart in
appendices). The statistical data for 1999 for the population of Kota Belud was
about 93,200 people. As such the number of patients seeking medical treatment
at the hospitals and clinics will rise. However, in this age of information
technology communication will become easier, more educated people, higher
income for some and improve standard of living. In addition newer diseases may
arise, high cost living, high cost of medical expenses and skyrocketing cost of
drugs. These are among the challenges that the pharmacy services will have to
encounter. For this matter, whatever available fund allocated must be properly
utilized.
The pharmacy service vision 2010 is a vision devised
that will meet the need and requirement and anticipate the coming years. Vision
2010 of the pharmacy service is one devised to see that the medication supplied
to consumer are safe, effective and of high quality and that the people are
knowledgeable in the medication prescribed to them, compliance to drug therapy
and appreciation for a healthy life. With more educated people and access to
information and knowledge and high cost of medical expenses patients will treat
themselves to over the counter medication. Our Vision 2010 of the pharmacy
service of the Kota Belud Hospital is to see that pharmacy services are
implemented to meet the needs of our district population.
There is a need for Vision 2010 to ensure that the
pharmacy services will be further improve to meet the challenges that may
arise. In the year 2010, we may see that patients can be diagnose at home and
get their prescriptions filled from a pharmacy. Hence, a system of control has
to be devised by the higher authorities.
In order to achieve 2010, there is a need to have
proper management of the pharmacies. As such we need qualified, knowledgeable
and efficient personnel to manage these pharmacies. There must be enough
qualified personnel such as pharmacists and pharmacy assistants. All the state
hospitals must have a pharmacist without them the scope of services rendered by
the pharmacy will not improve and vision 2010 for the pharmacy services will
not be achieved. Another important aspect is to have all pharmacies equipped
with computers and have internet link. This will help in receiving and
conveying information on drugs and other related matters.
It is also suggested that the management of the
hospital store and the hospital pharmacy should be separated.
Pharmaceutical care
For the Kota Belud Hospital, as well as for every
hospital in the state, clinical pharmacy services are suggested to be made
available. Clinical pharmacy services activities as follows are to be
implemented to meet the patients need.
1.
Drug and poison services
2.
Patient counseling
3.
Parenteral Nutrition
Service
4.
Intravenous Admixture
Service
5.
Oncology Pharmacy
service
6.
Clinical Pharmacokinetic
Service
At the moment the above services are not provided for
as there are no qualified personnel – pharmacist. Besides as for now, there is
no resident specialist attached to the hospital. In future the above services
are needed when specialists serves at the hospital. For this matter it is
necessary to create relevant posts and train staff on the above services.
Medical Supplies
Drug and non-drugs are currently received from two sources, Remedi Pharmaceutical a private company and “ Pusat Bekalan Farmasi Negeri’ a government supplier. In the next ten years, it would benefit the pharmacy service if all supply of drugs and non-drugs were received from private suppliers. Another important issue to look into would be to have centralized supply of medical gases in all hospitals delivered to site by supplier. This will solve the problem of transportation and will improve the situation.
Drugs such as in syrup, mixtures, lotions and creams
forms should be purchased in prepack units for direct dispensing. This will
reduce workload for the pharmacy personnel.
Drug Education
The current practice in most pharmacies is by
distributing pamphlets provided for by the ministry. To enhance drug education in the pharmacies and the Kota Belud
pharmacy in particular. a room equipped with a computer and reading materials
where the public has access to information on drugs should be made available.
Pharmacy Management
The pharmacist post at the Kota Belud hospital has not
been filled since 1995. Currently the pharmacy is supervised by a senior
pharmacy assistant, who in addition also supervises the hospital store
management. Separating the pharmacy and store management into two separate
sections will ensure good management of the sections. It is therefore suggested
that the higher authorities consider privatization of the hospital stores.
Public Health Pharmacy
The district of Kota Belud has 2 health clinics, 1
health center and 16 rural health clinics. In the health sector, there are only
two pharmacy assistants attached to the health clinics. As such, the pharmacy
service in the health sectors will improve by creating more post of pharmacy
personnel so as to have these posts in all the district clinics. This ensures
that drugs are appropriately kept and dispense. In addition, the health clinics
should have a pharmacist.
All the public health pharmacy should also be equipped
with on-line computer system.
Pharmacy Training
The current situation is that student pharmacists are
under direct supervision of a pharmacist where as third year trainee pharmacy
assistant are supervise by a pharmacy assistant. It is suggested that the
trainee pharmacy assistant undergo third year training under a pharmacist. This
will ensure that they have adequate training when they complete their courses.
As for trained pharmacy assistant, they should be send for upgrading at local
colleges and universities in relevant courses to keep up with current
requirements.
Vision 2010 is the way we want to see the pharmacy service
to be in ten years time. To achieve that vision comprehensive planning and
decision-making is necessary to be devised. It is important to ensure that
adequate manpower as well as existing vacant posts are filled. Another factor
that needs urgent consideration is to have a pharmacist in all the hospitals in
Sabah. This will ensure that the plans
and strategies set are implemented accordingly.
Proper pharmacy management will ensure efficient
services rendered to the public regardless of whether it is a hospital pharmacy
or a public health pharmacy. With proper pharmacy management, fund allocated
will be utilized fully to ensure that the services rendered by the pharmacy
benefit the community it serves. The store must be managed by a different
management and separate from the hospital pharmacy. Privatization for hospital
store should be taken into account. This will enable hospital pharmacies or
public health pharmacies to function better.
All pharmacies should also be equipped with on-line
computer system in order to keep abreast with current information related to
the pharmacy services. It is also suggested that pharmacies in the year 2010
have its own home page and that data and records are kept in diskettes to
reduce space for filing.
It is also suggested that the supply of medical gases in all hospitals are centralized and delivered to site by the supplier. As for now, problem often arises due to inadequate supply of medical gases in particular Oxygen. Centralized supply will not only enable the ward and other user to have easier access of medical gases but will also reduce workload of personnel to send and collect medical gases cylinders from the supplier to the immediate user. With this, the personnel affected can be deployed to do other tasks.
With reference to the current trend of patients
seeking treatment and having their prescription filled at the pharmacy, more
public health pharmacies will need to be opened to meet the increasing demand
due to increase in population. Presently the Kota Belud district have 2 health
Clinics, 1 health center and 16 rural health clinics of which of these only the
two health clinic have pharmacy assistants (one in each clinic). For these
reason adequate pharmacy personal must be created and posted in rural health
centers. This will contribute to the achievement of the pharmacy service Vision
2010.
In the next ten years cost of drugs will rise. To
reduce operational costs it is suggested that patients in the higher income
group purchase their medication in private pharmacies. However this need
approval of the higher authorities. Another issue to look into would be to
purchase medication in prepack forms. This will reduce waiting time and the
pharmacy personnel are able to concentrate on dispensing or other related
tasks.