Purpose Pharmacy services start right from prescribing medicines and continue as the medication’s effect is monitored. Hospital and community pharmacy staff promote rational prescribing and medicine use. Consequentially, pharmacy is a complex and busy field. Often there are peak workload hours when patients must wait, which is associated with patient dissatisfaction that may negatively affect patient experience and the organisation’s reputation. The purpose of this paper is to enlist techniques, methods and technological advancements that have been successfully employed to reduce patient waiting time. Design/methodology/approach A database search was conducted in 2017 to locate articles addressing methods and technologies that reduce pharmacy waiting time. The literature revealed various techniques and technologies like queuing theory, tele-pharmacy, evidence-based pharmacy design, automated pharmacy systems (robotics), system modelling and simulation and the Six Sigma method for identifying potential problems associated with increased wait time. Findings The authors conclude that various techniques and methods, including automated queuing technology, tele-pharmacy, automated pharmacy devices/machines for quick and accurate filling and dispensing, computer simulation modelling, evidence-based pharmacy infrastructure for smooth workflow and Six Sigma can maintain customer satisfaction, reduce waiting time, attract new customers, decrease workload and improve the organisation’s reputation. Practical implications The authors conclude that various techniques and methods, including automated queuing technology, tele-pharmacy, automated pharmacy devices/machines for quick and accurate filling and dispensing, computer simulation modelling, evidence-based pharmacy infrastructure for smooth workflow and Six Sigma methodology can maintain customer satisfaction, reduce waiting time, attract new customers, decrease workload and improve the organisation’s reputation. Originality/value The authors carried out a literature search and identified the techniques that have been successfully implemented to reduce pharmacy patient waiting time and methods that can identify potential process behind medication dispensation delays.

Background: Diabetes is one of the major health problems worldwide that can be effectively managed by good self-care activities like medication adherence, exercise, monitoring of blood glucose, foot care and diet. Objectives: The study assessed the self-care activities of diabetic patients using summary of diabetes self-care activities scale (SDSCA) and the variables (Age, gender, educational level, socioeconomic status (SES)) associated with it. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken in 400 Type 2 diabetic patients. Self-care practices of the patients were evaluated by using SDSCA and correlation with variables were determined statistically. Results: Among 400 diabetic patients about 215 (53.75%) had an average score of self-care. Self-care was poor in 184 (46%) subjects, and only 1 subject (0.25%) scored good. Blood sugar monitoring was the highest (100%) followed by medication adherence (92.75%) whereas inadequate levels of self-care were reported in foot care (1.5%), and physical activity (31.5%) domains. A significant positive correlation was found between self-care practices and socio-demographic variables such as age (r=0.298, p=0.000), income (r=0.490, p=0.000) occupation (r=0.433, p=0.000), education (r=0.582, p=0.000), and Socio-Economic status (r=0.599, p=0.000). Conclusion: The study revealed higher level of adherence to self-care activities in terms of blood sugar monitoring and medication taking behaviour in the current setting, but self-care in other domains such as foot care is critically low. Age, education and Socio-Economic status seems to affect the self-care practice by the patients. Keywords:  Diabetes, Diabetes self- care, Diabetic foot care, Summary of diabetes self-care activities (SDSCA) score.