On the frontline against COVID-19: Community pharmacists’ contribution during a public health crisis

Abstract

The global spread of COVID-19 is placing unprecedented demands on healthcare services. In this time of crisis, innovative and adaptive methods of practising will be required across all health professions. In order to maximise the use of current available resources, it is vital that existing services are comprehensively reviewed and full use is made of any unrealised potential among healthcare providers. Community pharmacy is one of a number of health professions that has a key role to play in responding to the current pandemic. As the scope of community pharmacy practice varies considerably across countries, it is important to examine ways in which the profession can assist with the public health response to COVID-19 and maintaining the continuity of healthcare services. This article seeks to highlight roles and activities that community pharmacists can undertake to help in relieving pressure on other areas of the health service, such as general practice. This information could help to inform future decisions about the restructuring of existing health services by governments, public health bodies and policy makers in response to public health crises such as COVID-19.

Response to the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic Across Africa: Successes, Challenges, and Implications for the Future

“…This includes encouraging self care/ hygiene measures including the supplying and wearing of masks and the need for regular hand washing as well as trying to protect patients against stock-outs of pertinent medicines (Al-Quteimat and Amer, 2020; Amariles et al, 2020;Haque et al, 2020;Ung, 2020) • Community pharmacists can also discuss appropriate treatments including arguing against the need for antibiotics where this is a concern and encouraging appropriate referral where possible (Mukokinya et al, 2018;Amariles et al, 2020;Godman et al, 2020a) • Community pharmacists and others can also push for extended supply of medicines where appropriate as well as help engage in discussions regarding adherence to medicines using different technologies especially given ongoing concerns with adherence to medicines without regular input from pharmacists and other professionals (Al-Quteimat and Amer, 2020; Kretchy et al, 2020;Zheng S. Q. et al, 2020). • Pharmacists can also suggest alternative approaches during times of medicine shortages including potential OTC treatments (Cadogan and Hughes, 2020). • They can also help improve stock controls to reduce potential shortages of key medicines with associated price increases, which is important in LMICs with high patient co-payments (Haque et al, 2020;Godman, 2020).…”

The challenges of COVID-19 for community pharmacists and opportunities for the future

“…As the most accessible healthcare professionals during the pandemic, community pharmacists have shown they can ably assist with the public health response to COVID-19, maintaining the continuity of healthcare services and undertaking additional responsibilities to help in relieving pressure on other areas of the health service, such as general practice (Cadogan and Hughes, 2020). They have become an information hub on the coronavirus infection, both in having a direct role in combating misinformation and helping patients select healthy behaviours (Sheppard & Thomas, 2020).…”

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prevention Services by Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia: What Do Policymakers and Opinion Leaders Think?

“…The stakeholders in this study, as did other stakeholders in previous studies in Saudi Arabia [17][18][19]44], recognised the need to build a better image of community pharmacy to enhance its pro le for engagement by consumers with any pharmacist provided health services. Indeed, during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic globally, community pharmacy has served an essential service, in managing medicine shortages, extendable supply based on prior histories in chronic conditions and upscaled handling of minor ailments in areas where primary care physician facilities were not operating [45][46][47][48][49][50]. In Saudi Arabia, pharmacists' skills have been fully utilised during the current pandemic to enhance the safety response [51].…”

“…"… the role of healthcare leader is to (a) standardise their work, (b) monitor the quality or output of their work, and (c) evaluate and compare between different sources of information or those of pharmacies with other members of healthcare team." (Pt1, M, [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]Govt. ) "…… The Ministry of Health can have a contract with a third party who is going to assess the quality of services delivered by the pharmacies and then that would be connected with a reimbursement given to such services."…”