Patient has right to more information
WE would like to thank “Just A Pharmacist” for the comments and feedback published in The Star dated June 9. Your insight and feedback is invaluable to us in the effort to improve the pharmacy services at our institutions. The Pharmacy Services Division (PSD) has always prioritised patient safety, and effectively communicating information pertaining to patients’ drugs are at the forefront of these efforts.
The PSD has always strived to ensure good dispensing practices are adopted and practiced among our pharmacists. As part of that effort, all government health facilities will provide counselling services to patients who are identified to be in need of additional information on their drug regimens or upon request from patients themselves or other colleagues within the healthcare system. In order to uphold ideal practices as well as ensure good quality of services, the PSD has taken the initiative to publish guidelines such as the Guide to Good Dispensing Practice, Tatacara Ringkas Pendispensan Ubat Kepada Pesakit and Garis Panduan Kaunseling Ubat-ubatan. As an extension to the published guidelines, audits or site visits are carried out by senior officers to ensure compliance to these guidelines and identify weaknesses in our current systems.
We acknowledge that despite all the initiatives taken by the PSD, the human element plays a crucial role as the values and ethics of said person will dictate the successful adherence to good practices. As with any system or organisation, the PSD accepts that there might be rare incidents of shortcomings within the vast services provided to patients in our facilities.
With that said, we would like to reiterate that your feedback and insight into the matter is greatly appreciated and will be invaluable in assisting us in expediting the process of improving our services. However, we would very much appreciate if more information can be shared with the PSD in anonymity such as the name of the facility and the pharmacist involved.
Every bit of information is crucial to allow us to home in on the deficiencies in our system and take remedial and preventive actions. You can always reach us at 03-78413600 or through any of the channels readily available on our website at www.pharmacy.gov.my. Above all, we stand by the fact that it is the right of all patients to insist on more information about their medicines from the pharmacist on duty to their satisfaction.
We would like to formally apologise for any inconveniences caused to the patient involved and would take this event as a stepping stone to refine and improve our pharmacy services at our facilities. Please be assured that the PSD acknowledges your concerns and welcomes any suggestions or constructive feedbacks with specific details with regards to such practices to further improve our services.