Monday, 8 May 2023

Should these be Told, Taught or made Job-Chart?

Should these be Told, Taught or made Job-Chart?

None of the PCI presidents, Secretaries,  DCGIs, Drugs Controllers of the State, Leaders of IPAs, IPGA, APTI, IHPA etc ever voluntarily visited service level Pharmacists to:

👉🏿See their working condition,

 👉🏿Discuss their challenges,

 👉🏿Interfere to sortout  the deficiencies

Yet, they pressume to be masters of everything,  advisors to Authorities and spokesperson of Pharmacists, representitives to attend all Government, National and International meets including DTAB, FIP etc.

Thursday, 16 March 2023

For modern times an ideal prescription should be a computerized printed form prescription with barcode or QR code

For modern times an ideal prescription should be a computerized printed form prescription so that it is legible opposite to oftenly an illegible physician's handwritten prescription. So that automization of dispensing of prescription medicines is possible by using modern technology like a computer scanner attached to pharmacy vending machines eg Script Pro Unit Dispenser. 

Filling Area     
Scriptpro – Automated Filling,Barcode Scan, Manual Count or Robotic Count , Attach Additional Label for Sp drugs

ScriptPro's SP Unit Dispenser (SPUD) and SP Automation Center (SPace) automatically load, store, and deliver unit-of-use medications, with SPace also capable of dispensing tablets/capsules.

They process up to 225 prescriptions and 375 prescriptions per hour respectively.

Like all ScriptPro systems, SPUD and SPace utilize:

integrated barcode scanning
screen display verification
prescription and auxiliary label printing

Mini SPUD/ScriptPro's SP Unit Dispenser (SPUD)/SP Automation Center 200 (SPace 200)/SP Automation Center (SPace) is a compact robotic system that combines prescription filling, labeling, verification, and dispensing for tablets, capsules, and unit-of-use medications at one workstation. It literally organizes all dispensing steps within the operator's reach.

SPace delivers filled and labeled prescription vials directly to the operator for verification and capping. Unit-of-use medications are delivered to the operator for automated labeling after a barcode scan match.

It holds 100 of the pharmacy's top selling tablets and capsules and up to 300 unit-of-use medications

SPace is an efficient, productive solution, uniquely designed for pharmacies that have a requirement to do a maximum amount of dispensing in a small footprint.
Handwritten prescriptions in India often pose significant risks due to their potential for misinterpretation. The diverse linguistic landscape of India, with multiple languages and scripts, adds to the complexity of deciphering these prescriptions accurately. Common issues include illegible handwriting, which can lead to confusion between drugs with similar names or incorrect dosing instructions. This is particularly problematic given the wide range of medications available and the critical importance of precise dosages.

Moreover, handwritten prescriptions sometimes lack essential information such as patient history, allergies, or specific instructions for drug administration. In a healthcare environment where pharmacists play a key role in the safe dispensing of medications, these omissions can lead to serious health risks.

The situation calls for a more robust system, possibly incorporating digital prescriptions, which can ensure clarity, accuracy, and traceability. Standardizing prescription formats and embracing electronic health records could greatly mitigate the risks associated with handwritten prescriptions, leading to safer and more effective patient care in the Indian context.

Friday, 24 February 2023

Drug and Cosmetic act and Pharmacy Practice Regulations Act

Drug and Cosmetic act 1940 and Pharmacy act 1948 and Pharmacy Practice Regulations Act 2015 all are different and are mismatch.

KNOW (Y)OUR PHARMACY ACT & ITS WEAKNESS:

1.. The Act was enacted in 1948 to which the States can frame Rules. Rules should be in compliance with and without prejudice to the Act 
Weakness: Not updated to current scenario and needs. States and state councils are working with total disregard to the Act as if it is their own registered association.
2. The Act provides for constitution of Central council and state councils. Since ER is in force there is no provision to form Tribunal for RRegistation.
3. Act provides for elected and nominated and ex-officio Govt official members in the council.
Weakness :
a. Both central and state councils are dominated by traders and academicians.
No reservation to have representation from Industry, Clinical trial, hospital and clinical pharmacists and women.
3. All members except those from Medical council, UGC etc should be Registered pharmacists as per the Act.
Weakness:
Since neither the Govt nor the PCI is supervising the council:
a Many councils including Central council are running with members who are not Reg Ph as per the Act. .
b.There are councils headed, presided over  and administered by non pharmacists.
- How can the resolutions be considrd valid under the Act.
4. There are clear guidelines to convene and conduct meetings.
Central council passes hundreds of resolutions in just 4 to 6 hours- Amazing that Limka and Guinies book of records has not noticed.
Weakness: 
All meetings and deliberations are under mutual understanding, obligation and for self-esteem aggrandizement. 
Real professional interest and professionalism are nowhere seen or felt. There is no one to verify and pull up the violation.
5. The term of office of members is only 5 years.
Weakness:
Elections are delayed due to vested interest on one side and due to deviation in awarding registration.
Most of the times, the voters (reg Ph) do not get information on election schedules.

Voter should send the marked ballot paper by Reg.post a/d only.
Weakness:
a. It was good in 1948. Now it is outdated and has made easy way for the interested contestant to collect personally and mail by reg post on behalf of the Ph. Returning officer sinceerly accepts all ballot papers rceived by rreg post and declardeclares rsult.
Obvious name/s get elected.

Remedy:
Besides the Amendments needed the following measures would help:

All councils should publish on their website all documents:
a. Names of members, Reg.No with State, Validity and Govt nomination Notifications.
2. Meeting calendar for the year.

3. Proceedings of the meetings. Since all decisions except the administrative issues are related to profession publishing the same cannot be refused.
All resolutions should quote the section, clause and Rule No. under which the the decision was taken like, In exercise of the powers conferred under section...., Clause ....., Rule No. ....

4. List of Reg Ph. and List of names removed due to non renewal and names restored.

5.  D&C Act and Pharmacy Act mismatch with each other.:
a. Pharmacy Act and PPR 2015 doesn't mention SALE of drugs. D&c act do not recognize pharmacy practice.
b  Regulatory does not work in support of the council and do not share their inspection report extract with the council

6. The drugs controller should publish the name and address  of the licensee, Name of the approved pharmacist and his registration no. on their website

.

Thursday, 8 October 2020

Pharmacists cannot open clinics to diagnose disease & prescribe medicine; clarifies PCI

Clearing the doubts on pharmacists can open pharma clinics to treat common disease and prescribe medicine, Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has recently notified that the pharmacists cannot open clinics to diagnose the disease and prescribe the medicines.

PCI has clarified that there is no provision in the Pharmacy Practice Regulations (PPR), 2015 which allows the pharmacists to practice medicine. Under the said Regulations, the registered pharmacist is required to dispense medicines on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner and can counsel the patient or care giver on medicine to enhance or optimise drug therapy.

The elements of patient counselling includes, name and description of the drugs;the dosage form, dose, route of administration, and duration of drug therapy; intended use of the drug and expected action; special directions and precautions for the drug; common severe side effects or adverse effects or interactions and therapeutic contraindications that may be encountered, including their avoidance, and the action required if they occur; techniques for self monitoring drug therapy; proper storage of the drugs; prescription refill information; action to be taken in the event of a missed dose and to ensure rational use of drugs.

Dr. B Suresh, president of PCI informed that there are few groups of pharmacists who are claiming that they are doctors and there are various messages being circulated on social media, e-mails, WhatsApp etc. that pharmacists are empowered under PPR, 2015 to open pharma clinics to diagnose the disease and prescribe medicines.

We would like to clarify that there are no such provision under PPR, 2015 which allows pharmacists to diagnose and prescribe medicine. PPR, 2015 only allows the pharmacists to practice pharmacy and not medicine, they can counsel the patient or care giver and dispense medicines on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner but cannot prescribe medicines to the patients

He further adds, “Under no circumstances, the registered pharmacist is empowered under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 and PPR, 2015 to practice medicines or open clinics to provide medical care.


BUT, My query is : Can a registered pharmacist(PHARM D) approved with Clinical Pharmacy Council give PHARMA CARE in his PHARMACY? Services like prior authorization and refill authorization for prescription drugs is permitted?

Monday, 5 October 2020

Medicotherapeutic approach vs Pharmacotherapeutic approach

Therapeutics: In medicine, the branch that deals specifically with the treatment of disease and the art and science of healing. In pharmacology, therapeutics accordingly refers to the use of drugs and the method of their administration in the treatment of disease.

Thursday, 10 September 2020

5 Famous Pharmacists to Inspire You

5 Famous Pharmacists to Inspire You
  • 1) Alexander Flemming. Contribution: The discovery of penicillin. ...
  • 3) John Pemberton. Contribution: Created Coca-Cola. ...
  • 4) Hubert Humphrey. Contribution: USA Vice President (1965 – 1968) ...
  • 5) Friedrich Serturner. Contribution: Discovered Morphine.