Pharmacist oath

PHARMA CLINIC

Highlights: Pharmacy Practice Regulations, 2015

Dr. Satish S

Associate Professor

Srinivas college of pharmacy Mangalore

The Government of India Notification No. 14.148/2012-PCI, dated: 15.01.2015 published in the Gazette of India dated Friday January 16, 2015. This Notification taking in to effect in the State of Karnataka: November 24, 2016.

New Pharmacy Practice rules 2015 attempted to address the rights of pharmacists. These regulation allow concept of Pharma clinic.  Objectives for making practice regulations Professions exist to serve society. The mission of the pharmacy profession is to render service to humanity with full respect for the dignity of profession and man, besides addressing the needs of society and of individual patients. The public places great trust in the knowledge, skills and professional judgments of pharmacists. This trust requires the pharmacists to ensure and maintain throughout their career high standards of personal and professional conduct, up-to date knowledge and professional competence relevant to their domain of practice. The registered pharmacist should merit the confidence of patients entrusted to their care, rendering to each a full measure of service and devotion and should try continuously to improve his knowledge and skills and should make available to their patients and colleagues the benefits of their professional attainments.

The regulations for practice of pharmacy laying down responsibilities of pharmacist towards patient, another registered pharmacist and the public in general. Primary reasons to regulate pharmacy profession are: To improve quality of health care To ensure that Pharmacists maintain high standards in their duty. To reduce cost of health care. To inhibit criminal abuse of medicines It is also a call for laying down the activities which may be construed as misconduct and provision for taking disciplinary action.

According to regulation “Practice of Pharmacy” means:

       I.            Interpretation, evaluation and implementation of medical orders; dispensing of prescriptions, drug orders

    II.            Participation in drug and device selection, drug administration, drug regimen reviews and drug or drug iii. Provisions of patient counseling and the provision of those acts or services necessary to provide pharmaceutical care in all areas of patient care including primary care ; and

 Pharmaceutical care means the provision of drug therapy and other patient care services intended to achieve outcomes related to the care or prevention of a disease, elimination or reduction of a patient’s symptoms, or arresting or slowing of a disease process, as defined by the Pharmacy Council of India.

Drug Information Pharmacist means an individual currently registered who works in a community pharmacy/hospital Pharmacy/teaching hospital/ other health care settings and provides information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage and proper medication storage to patients/physicians/dentists/other health care professionals.

“Clinical Pharmacist” means an individual currently registered and who provides patient care that optimizes the use of medication and promotes health, wellness and disease prevention. Clinical pharmacists-care-for patients in all health care settings. Clinical pharmacists often collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals.

Patient counseling is a oral communication by the pharmacist of information to the patient or caregiver, in order to ensure proper use of drugs and devices.

a) Upon receipt of a prescription (prescription drug order) and following a review of the patient’s record, a Registered Pharmacist shall personally initiate discussion of matters that will enhance or optimize drug therapy with each patient or care given of such patient. Such discussion shall be in person, whenever practicable or by telephone and shall include appropriate elements of patient counseling. Such elements may include the following: i) Name and description of the drugs ii) The dosage form, dose, route of administration, and duration of drug therapy iii) Intended use of the drug and expected action iv) Special directions and precautions for the drug v) Common severe side effects or adverse effects or interactions and therapeutic contra indications that may be encountered, including their avoidance, and the action required if they occur; vi) Techniques for self monitoring drug therapy vii) Proper storage of the drugs viii) Prescription refill information ix) Action to be taken in the event of a missed dose x) To ensure rational use of drugs

Note : The pharmacist shall not be required to counsel a patient or caregiver when the patient or caregiver refuses such consultations.

b) The pharmacist shall maintain the/ records pertaining to drugs administered to the patients (drug card) that may be utilized for the evaluation of the drug therapy

c) The pharmacist is authorized (as a Health care professional) to undertake process and outcome research, health promotion and education and provide health information.

It can also undertake the Pharmacopidemiological studies. a) Pharmacies providing patient counseling shall have regard to the following: i. Only Registered pharmacists are involved in counseling. ii. Facilities are provided for confidential conversation and patient confidentiality is maintained. iii. Patient information leaflets are provided. iv. Proper documentation is made. v. Unnecessary counselling should be avoided. vi. Counselling for Patient’s Benefit: In every consultation, the benefit to the patient is of foremost importance. All registered pharmacists engaged in the case should be frank with the patient and his attendants. vii. Punctuality in counselling: Utmost punctuality should he observed by a registered pharmacist in making themselves available for counselling.