Background Novel Coronavirus is a global pandemic affecting all walks of life and it significantly changed the health system practices. Pharmacists are at the front line and have long been involved in combating this public health emergency. Therefore, the study was aimed to explore pharmacy preparedness and response to prevent and control coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods A qualitative study was conducted in six pharmacies in Aksum, Ethiopia in May, 2020. We conducted six in-depth interviews with purposively selected key informants. Direct observation measures were made to assess the activities made in the medicine retail outlets for the prevention and control of the pandemic. Interview data were audio-recorded, translated and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data and OpenCode version 4.02 software was used to facilitate the data analysis. Results The thematic analysis has resulted in seven major themes. Good preparedness measures were undertaken to control and prevent COVID-19. Study informants had good knowledge about the pandemic disease and reported they had used different resource materials to update themselves. Preparing of alcohol-based hand-rub, availing finished sanitizers and alcohol, and advising clients to maintain physical distancing were the major counseling information being delivered to prevent the disease. Some tendencies of irrational drug use and false claims of COVID-19 were observed at the beginning of the pandemic. Interview informants had reported they were working with relevant stakeholders and appropriate patient education and support were given to combat the pandemic. Conclusion The study revealed necessary pharmacy services has been rendered to all clients. However, availability of drugs and medical supplies were scarce which negatively affected the optimal delivery of pharmacy services. The government and other responsible bodies should work together to solve such problems and contain the pandemic.

Background Novel Coronavirus is a global pandemic affecting all walks of life and it significantly changed the health system practices. Pharmacists are at the front line and have long been involved in combating this public health emergency. Therefore, the study was aimed to explore pharmacy preparedness and response to prevent and control coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods A qualitative study was conducted in six pharmacies in Aksum, Ethiopia in May, 2020. We conducted six in-depth interviews with purposively selected key informants. Direct observation measures were made to assess the activities made in the medicine retail outlets for the prevention and control of the pandemic. Interview data were audio-recorded, translated and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data and OpenCode version 4.02 software was used to facilitate the data analysis. Results The thematic analysis has resulted in seven major themes. Good preparedness measures were undertaken to control and prevent COVID-19. Participants had good knowledge about the pandemic disease and reported they had used different resource materials to update themselves. Preparing of alcohol-based hand-rub; availing finished sanitizers and alcohol; and advising clients to maintain physical distancing were the major counseling information being delivered to prevent the disease. Some tendencies of irrational drug use and false claims of COVID-19 were observed at the beginning of the pandemic. Interview informants had reported they were working with relevant stakeholders and appropriate patient education and support were given to combat the pandemic disease. Conclusion The study revealed necessary pharmacy services has been rendered to all clients. However, availability of drugs and medical supplies were scarce which negatively affected the optimal delivery of pharmacy services. The government and other responsible bodies should work together to solve such problems and contain the pandemic disease.

BackgroundMilk is a complete food useful to promote growth and development of the infant mammals as it contains vital nutrients including proteins, essential fats, vitamins, and minerals, in a balanced proportion. Milk can also contain chemical hazards and contaminants, such as heavy metals which can be a risk for health. This study was aimed at determining the level of the heavy metals in cow’s milk collected from Butajirra and Meskan districts, south Ethiopia. Cows’ milk was collected from 193 healthy and lactating cows. Samples were digested by optimized microwave digestion method using HNO 3 and H 2 O 2 . Analysis was done using ICP-OES for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. MP-AES was used for Ca, Mg, K and Na. ResultsNi was not detected in all the milk samples. The concentrations of metals in the studied milk samples were, Cd (0.0 – 0.03), Cr (0.0 – 0.4), Cu (0.03 – 1.1), Fe (0.0– 1.9), Mn (0.0– 0.7), Pb (0.0– 12.3), Zn (0.0–8.2), Ca (380.1– 532.4), Mg (159.6– 397.9), K (1114.2–1685.8) and Na (495.9–1298.3) ppm. These values were compared with guide lines of different international organizations for food and other available literatures. Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, Zn and Mg were found over the permissible limits. ConclusionSpecial attention should be given to the level of heavy metals in cows’ milk, since they are difficult to remove from the body and are dangerous to health once they accumulate to a level greater than their limit.

Objectives: In light of population ageing and health technology innovation, cancer drug is one of the major contributors for pharmaceutical expenditure growth in many countries. This study aims to explore the determinants of cancer drug cost expansion in recent two decades and review the drug pricing policies of the singlepayer system in Taiwan. Methods: Data of fiscal year 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016 of the Taiwanese National Health Insurance (NHI) Scheme was selected as study source and was obtained from the NHI Research Database. Two established methods for decomposition were employed in light of methodological advantages: the Fisher Ideal Index decomposition method (Morgan, 2004) and the decomposing formula developed by Patented Medicine Prices Review Board of Canada at 2013. Considering the defined daily doses established by WHO are generally unavailable for cancer drugs, the authors set uniformed daily dosage for each ingredient based on product information and/or clinical consensus to estimate drug volume in a more delicate way. Policies were reviewed from the prospective of NHI. Results: The total expenditure of cancer drugs increased from USD$ 77.1 million in 2001 to USD $ 646.5 million in 2016. The contribution of novel agents, such as monoclonal antibodies and protein kinase inhibitors, surged from 29.0% to 83.6%. The decomposing analysis revealed that price effects were negative to drug expenditure growth (Period 1[2001-2006], 1.01; Period 2 [2006Period 2 [ -2011 Period 3 [2011 Period 3 [ -2016, 0.74). By contrast, therapeutic choices and volume effects had positive impacts, yet the degrees of effects were decreasing (Volume effects/Therapeutic choices: Period 1, 1.63/1.56; Period 2, 1.45/ 1.28; Period 3, 1.30/1.17). Conclusions: Patient volume was the major driver of cancer drug expense in Taiwan, followed by therapeutic choices. This finding may be associated with the established health technology assessment for insurance coverage and effective price control strategy under the single-payer scheme.