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Being a consultant – a challenge and a calling for the farmacist
It has been two years of discussing new trends and aspects of the medicines in use and the “Pharmaceutical care” concept – a notion meant to serve as a corner-stone in pharmaceutical practice, where the pharmacist takes responsibility for patient’s needs regarding any medicines prescribed and the problems issuing thereof. There are three main functions to be observed in this respect:
- Definition of both actual and hidden problems regarding medicines prescribed to the patient;
- Assisting and advising the patient in order to solve the problem occurred;
- Preventive practice towards hidden problems;
What are the priorities when seeking correct consults and stimulating safe medicine usage?
- To be acquainted with patient’s health status and the results expected from the therapy assigned;
- To make comparative assessments of the expected results, the actual outcome and the time spent to complete the therapy.
- To have a pharmaco-economic approach towards the medicines in use, in order to contribute at his best to patient’s health and welfare.
- To maintain active collaboration with the specialist engaged in the process.
It is time to stop perceiving medicines as common market products, because it is not flavor, taste, color or package that matters. It is the effect of a definite substance packed, prescribed and used according to therapy requirements that is sought by the patient.
The price of medicines is a subject constantly under discussion, though actually, people do not buy medicines just for the sake of it – they pay for pharmacists’ correct decisions. They do not take interest in the shape or package of the drug prescribed – people are interested in its effectiveness.
That is why it is unacceptable to refer in purely commercial manner to people’s willingness to pay the price for the correct pharmacist’s decision. The good pharmacist must take into consideration the aggravated public health, the permanent stress, the insecurity and unemployment which negatively influence one’s self-preservation instinct.
Self-treatment is a way of taking care of one’s health, though it should be exercised only under expert advice and control. It is a means of stimulating individual health care.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions in order to receive necessary information from the patient:
- What are your complaints?
- When did these conditions occur?
- What therapy/medications have been assigned / prescribed to you up to now?
- What other medications do you take and what other diseases do you treat at the moment?
The pharmacy should be the most appropriate place to receive correct medical information and the pharmacist – traditionally the most easily accessible and trusted source of information.
You can view the Lege Artis certificate, issued by Sting Ltd. here
