“Pharmaceutical Care 5.0: Creating a New Frontier
Message from the Chairman, Pharmacy Council of Jamaica
The year 2020 has been one of the most challenging years in the history of our times. The COVID-19 pandemic has tested the character of everyone. Our lives have undergone changes/adjustments we had never conceived we could make. But we have found a way to rise above the odds and show that we have it within us to be resilient in times of crises, and even find ways to seize opportunities thereby causing us to grow.
In recognising the obstacles that the Pharmaceutical industry and profession have faced, and also acknowledging that pharmacists have continued to provide services as frontline workers during the pandemic, I am heartened by the resolve of the Executive and Officers of the Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica (PSJ) to stage a Virtual Conference and celebrate Pharmacy Week activities.
The Pharmacy Council takes pride in applauding the efforts of the PSJ once again as it embraces its mandate to make the lives of those who are ill better through the provision of impactful pharmaceutical services.
The pharmacy profession which dates back to the time of the Ancient Egyptians, has gone through phenomenal changes and development over many centuries, but more so, over the last few decades.
The advent of Pharmaceutical Care, (a patient-oriented practice involving a more
expanded and teambased clinical role, providing patient centered medication therapy management, health improvement, and disease prevention services) has seen the pharmacists performing new roles that improve the overall care and health outcomes of the patient. Medication Therapy Management, Medication Reconciliation and Transition of Care programmes have resulted in positive movements in many indicators such as cost savings, patient outcomes, hospital readmission rates, patient satisfaction scores, and hospital length of stay. We live in a technological age and we are seeing an explosion in the utilization of technology in every sphere of life. Pharmacy is no exception and so the introduction of pharmacy-enabling technologies have the potential to extend knowledge and capabilities of pharmacists, enhance pharmaceutical care activities and expand professional roles and skills. Pharmaceutical Care services can utilise mobile health (general term for the use of mobile phones and other wireless technology to educate consumers about preventive health care services) to improve patient outcomes. Additionally, Telehealth - the distribution of health-related services and information via electronic information and telecommunication technologies, are potential opportunities to improve efficiency and minimize errors. Telemedicine and electronic prescribing and dispensing are currently topical discussion points in the Jamaican health care system which can serve to improve safety, particularly during the COVID -19 pandemic. Monitoring technologies (e.g., microchip-containing tablet blister for adherence monitoring) are amongst the innovations that can improve pharmaceutical services. Whereas, the exploration of these new frontiers is reason for excitement and opportunities for the pharmacy profession, there is need for ongoing lobbying to have regulatory amendments and policy changes that will introduce systems to facilitate a smooth implementation and maintenance of a successful programme. It is my hope that all sectors will give priority to what I consider an urgent matter; one that will generate great benefits for the Jamaican public and patients. Congratulations again to the Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaican on the staging of its 2020 Virtual Conference and its innovative theme, “Pharmaceutical Care 5.0: Creating a New Frontier.” On behalf of the Pharmacy Council of Jamaica, I wish the PSJ a successful conference.