THE USER-FRIENDLY PHARMACY

A FREQUENTLY used phrase: “We are living in a global village.” Yes, indeed. Because of technology and the global reach of the Internet, we are living in and experiencing the Information Age.

Because of this, a great many citizens of the world, who have the need and the ability, can ‘google’ any needed information on the World Wide Web.

This incredible facility puts health and wellness information at our fingertips.

When persons visit a doctor because of a medical ailment, the diagnosis usually results in a prescription being issued. These prescriptions are dispensed at public- or private-sector pharmacies.

Over the decades since the advent of the Internet, persons are informing themselves about the medication being prescribed for them. As a result, today’s citizens are more informed about their health and wellness. The truth is, we want to control our life and, more persons insist that, in this Information Age, they need to have more say in their health and wellness.

It is against this background I make these observations.

Cable TV and the Internet is a source of drug information, not only for over-the-counter, but also prescription medication. What matters is the disclaimer inserted at the end of the ‘drug information’. THIS IS THE GUIDE THAT INFORMS THE PROSPECTIVE USER OF THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS.

Amazon, the global marketing giant, has now ventured into the pharmacy trade.

Some years ago, it purchased PILL PACK, a small company that identified a niche market for patients who need to have their prescriptions pre-packed in daily doses for ease, accuracy and compliance to maintain their health and wellness regime. THE ADVENT OF PILL PACK WAS A MAJOR BOON FOR THE ELDERLY AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.

Now, Amazon Pharmacy is aggressively promoting its service on Cable TV and the Internet.

Here is my reasoning. The pharmacy business has evolved into a global powerhouse. Health and wellness have a high profile and if Jamaica is not alert, we will be left behind. Let the debate begin.

• In Jamaica, every pharmacist is now trained to at least the BPharm standard.

• Also, any registered pharmacist with at least five to 10 years in retail must have acquired the experience of a competent pharmaceutical professional.

• In order to afford the profession its due, legislators should be examining ways and means of modifying the Pharmacy Act to expand the pharmacist’s scope of practice to include (limited) prescribing authority.

• Therefore; be it resolved that the Pharmacy Act be purposefully modified to ensure that registered retail pharmacists (with five to 10 years’ hands-on experience and more) can have/play a more meaningful role in Jamaica’s health and wellness delivery.

• HERE IS A SUGGESTED STARTING POINT – a memorandum of understanding with the medical profession as follows:

It is agreed that certain types of prescriptions may be extended (WITHIN REASON) as required. The pharmacist’s name will be printed on the label instead of the doctor’s. (THIS FORMAT – continued-care prescribing – IS BEING APPLIED IN NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA).

• In order to facilitate the above, LIST 2 must be reclassified in keeping with UK and developed world standards.

The ultimate goal is #thewellnesseconomy.