The emergence of clinical pharmacy as a practice was because of the seriously poor medicine control systems that existed in hospitals during the early 1960s. It was initially termed ‘ward pharmacy’, but participation in medical ward rounds in the late 1970s signalled the transition to ‘clinical pharmacy’.
Clinical pharmacy in the 1980s grew because of its ability to promote medication safety and to ensure that cost-effective medicines were used in hospitals. In the United States, pharmacists’ participation in physicians’ ward rounds have shown reduced adverse drug events by as much as 78 per cent and 66pc in medical and intensive care settings, respectively.
Today, clinical pharmacy is an integral part of the health profession worldwide as its primary role is to provide safe, effective and accurate medicine dose. Regretfully, this profession is not much known in Pakistan. Except a few well-known, mostly private hospitals, the rest do not acquire the services of clinical pharmacists.
Balochistan does not have a single clinical pharmacist. Some hospitals in Quetta, including the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayyad Hospital, the Bolan Medical Complex Hospital and the newly-established branch of Indus Hospital, are considering hiring the services of clinical pharmacists by utilising hospital pharmacists.
The absence of clinical pharmacists in the health profession puts the life of thousands of patients at risk, promotes ineffective use of medication, and accelerates medication wastage. Additionally, it leaves thousands of pharmacy graduates in a mental dilemma who go through five years of extensive study only to find there is limited practical implementation of their skills and knowledge post-graduation.
The government must consider the integration of clinical pharmacists in the healthcare system. It is their job to promote medication safety, reduce medication-related issues and boost cost-effective medication. It will also open up job opportunities for pharmacy graduates who frequently switch careers or move abroad in search of employment.
SHAMIR MURTAZA
QUETTA
