REVIEW OF THE BASIC COMPONENTS OF CLINICAL PHARMACEUTICAL CARE IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The current clinical and pharmaceutical care in developing countries needs special attention of international health care organizations. The poor health care facilities are potentially hurting the overall quality of life and health standards. So, we have to control the drug interactions, clinical errors, self/ wrong medications and therapeutical problem to achieve the Millennium Development Goals described by World Health Organization. Thus, we have aimed this study to point out the components, potentially hurting the health care system in Pakistan. The control of irrational drug usage or poor pharmaceutical care will help to improve the indigenous health standards. Whereas, the drug jurisprudence, licensing, inventory control and supply also need a comprehensive revision and enforcement throughout the country. The channel through which the drugs supplied without appropriate examination should also be checked at each step. The quality tests, therapeutical monitoring, bio-safety and prescription review are additional safety valves to control the avoidable health hazards. Therefore the drugs experts and qualified pharmacists should be assigned their real clinical and patient oriented responsibilities instead of clerical, administrative or inventory control task. This is also noticed that the prospective bureaucracy, district health authorities and medical superintendents of public sector hospitals may intentionally work collectively to keep the real custodian of drugs (pharmacists) away from his real work. That may help them to obtain the maximum corporate, monetary and/ or political benefits. Thus, in current practice the missing roles of drug experts and omission of internationally recognized components of pharmaceutical care lead to malpractice in heath care system. We may need additional legal restrictions to assure the safety of patients. The health administration, political leadership, corporate businesses and pharmaceutical institutions should work collectively to assure the quality and safety of patients.