A Review on Medication Synchronization Programs in Community Pharmacies to Improve Medication Adherence

Abstract

Adherence to the prescribed medications plays an important role in treatment of chronic diseases. Hypertension, Ischemic heart diseases, Diabetes mellitus, Dyslipidaemia's are major health challenges of 21 st Century and are more expensive. A total 79% of Projected deaths are caused due to chronic diseases in developing countries. Non adherence to prescribed medications is one of major health threat worldwide. Patients who are on chronic diseases are offen visits multiple health care practioners, numerous pharmacies, and who take multiple drugs results in medication non-adherence. The new primary care models suggest that there is no promotion of close physician-patient-pharmacist relationships. Training for the treatment of chronic diseases is seldom satisfactory and there is inadequate consistency and communication between health care providers. Among health care profession community pharmacist are the ideal position to assist the management of patients with chronic disease. The Synchronization services are offered by several community pharmacies to improve medication adherence. These programs work by overcoming the barriers of medication non adherence by refilling their prescription in their single visits. Although there are Numerous medication synchronization programs are available in community pharmacies effectives of medication synchronization programs are confined to its type synchronization programs implemented.