What Are The Services Available In Community Pharmacies?
Did you know? Community pharmacies, also known as retail pharmacies play a critical role in providing healthcare services?
Community pharmacies are located in almost every neighbourhood in Malaysia. Most of these facilities have extended opening hours, and are accessible to all. Studies have shown that the services provided by community pharmacies have led to better patient care as well as medical outcomes.
A Community pharmacy also play an important role in encouraging, preserving, and enhancing the health of the community they represent through health promotion initiatives. In Malaysia, patients are typically unaware of what community pharmacies have to offer. Find out the various services provided by a community pharmacy in your neighbourhood.
#1 DRUG DISPENSATION
In Malaysia, the 1952 Poison Act allows registered private general practitioners to prescribe and dispense medication in their clinics. Patients have indicated that they are satisfied with the information regarding complementary medicine. Community pharmacy is mainly accessible to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and the healthcare practitioner in the pharmacy is easily approachable for advice on any health problems.
#2 CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS
According to an article released by MDPI Open Access to Journals, clinical intervention is defined as any appropriate action taken by a pharmacist to change patient management or therapy.
Besides preventing medicine related errors and ensuring that patients consume their medications in a timely and appropriate manner, interventions by pharmacists can avoid unnecessary burdens due to medicine-related mishaps too.
#3 DRUG REVIEWS
A study has shown that regardless of community pharmacists’ contributions to interventions, medication review interventions seem to reduce medication related problems and increase medication obedience. Community pharmacists are regarded as the first point of care of primary health care in a community. Additionally, community pharmacists can reduce medication usage problems in different settings and contribute to the patient’s overall well-being and quality of life.
#4 MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
Effective screening can help to prevent deaths, and disabilities and improve one’s quality of life. In order to improve the relevance of community pharmacies in Malaysia, extended basic health services such as early detection of general health problems and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are highly encouraged. Community pharmacies are located at recognised locations where people seek help for the management of minor illnesses, the symptoms of which can often resemble early signs of some of the NCDs.
#5 TREATMENT OF MINOR ILLNESSES
Based on availability, access, convenience, and cost, it is suggested that using community pharmacies to treat minor illnesses could help optimise health resources and provide more healthcare options to the public. Public healthcare services are often congested, and utilization of community pharmacies for minor illnesses reduces the need for medical care at primary health clinics or hospitals.
#6 LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS COUNSELING
Pharmacists have been well known to be highly accessible and trusted health care providers. They have frequent contact with patients who could potentially benefit from lifestyle-modification education. Pharmacists are in an ideal position to offer patients information, guidance, and counseling regarding lifestyle changes that can help manage their medical conditions. Community pharmacists in Malaysia are involved in several regular health promotion activities such as weight management, diabetes counseling, diet and physical activity counseling.
Community pharmacies are providing more services than we can ever assume. The role of pharmacists as healthcare providers expand with time and with it also comes plenty of opportunities for community pharmacies to make a difference.
Patients are satisfied when the services offered by community pharmacies go beyond their expectations. The expectation among the patients increases when the community pharmacy provides advanced services. As a part of community services, a telehealth platform like White Coat 360 bridges the gap between healthcare providers and the community to ensure that healthcare services are easily reachable in a neighbourhood. Now, people can communicate with health providers anytime through White Coat 360.
Remember, a greater community is built by making a difference together!
People often favour a pharmacy that gives satisfaction through customer service, especially when the pharmacists can pull off good interpersonal skills.
