CHEARS

Implementation of PharmaD (doctor of pharmacy )doctors as new criteria in Hospitals

Introduction :

A versatile degree such as pharma D has an ever changing field and broad spectrum of possibilities. It is a pre-PhD, post graduate doctoral programme which requires 5 years of academic studies and 1 year of internship training. During academic years they are trained on various topics including diseases, pathology, pharmacology, general medicine, pediatrics, orthopaedic, gynecology, oncology . In those 12 months of internship they are trained on general medicine for 6 months, pediatrics for 2 months, orthopedic for 2 months and gynecology for 2 months. The course was first introduced in India in 2008, by Government of India and Pharmacy Council of India. The course is approved by PCI . Currently it is compulsory for hospitals to have a Drug Information Centre (DIC) which is a to be handled by a PharmaD holder . This was a necessary step to allow and understand the safe and effective use of Drug.

Doctors of Pharmacy are undoubtedly needed to ensure optimum health outcome of the citizens . PharmaD can help the patients to understand their medicines better. Often time , drug reactions can lead to danger and complications occur during medication. They can work alongside doctors and nurses and provide advice and information on drug uses which will lead to less error during treatment .

Besides working alongside doctors they can be directors of pharmacy, procurement officers, hospital pharmacy consultants and deliver lecturers to pre-registered trainees,presentation to other medical staff and provide tutorial support to undergraduate pharmacy students. They can ensure the medicines are dispensed , compound and manufacture medicines if ready made portions are not available, can review medication chart, monitor therapeutic drug, manage adverse drug reactions, provide counselling to patients for further understanding. They can provide medications, such as intravenous antibiotics, pain management medication, nutritional supplements and chemotherapy . They can also monitor the patients' progress and adjust therapy as needed.

ROLE : The main focus of this course is doctors and patients, not companies or manufacturers. Besides working as clinical pharmacologist , there's plenty of other roles they can play-

1 . Patient Safety Officer :

The medical field is vast . Hospitals do need both clinical and non clinical employees in order to run smoothly. With rapid growth of fiels , it is much needed to keep in new job implications in hospitals

Doctor of Pharmacy have important role in ensuring the availability of the right medication, at the right time, in the right dose, for inpatients, outpatients and patients when leaving the hospital,maintaining hospital formulary to procure medicines, vaccines and intravenous fluids and storing them according to legal, regulatory and storage requirements. Manufacturing and distributing imprest and non-imprest medicines. Compounding specialised injections, infusion and oral mixturesdispensing. Discharge prescription medicines and providing education and counselling to patients,providing hospital pharmacy residency programs for early-career pharmacists,providing intern training programs and student placements for prospective pharmacists in training. Ulndertaking hospital-wide governance activities related to the use of medicines through quality use of medicines and medication safety activities such as drug use evaluations and stewardship programs for high-risk medicines, e.g. opioids, antimicrobials, anticoagulants. Managing and administering clinical trials and participate in research projects,providing medicines information services to the entire hospital. In conclusion pharmaD doctors as new criteria in hospitals is a must.