By Asma’u Ahmad
The Deputy Director, Pharmaceutical Services, National Assembly, Mr. Ali Umoru said a robust pharmacist relationship with patient in medication could solve up to 80 per cent of drug related problem.
Mr. Umoru said this at the Second Annual Scientific Week Conference and N10 million bus launch by the Association of Hospital Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) in Abuja.
Newsmen report that this year’s theme is “Pharmacist-patient relationship: Toward better pharmaceutical services.”
Delivering a key note address, he described pharmacists as serving as record keepers of different prescriptions from different physicians and authorised prescribers, and the relationship with the patient.
Umoru noted that such relationship had placed him in a prime position to access medication effectiveness, adherence, risk of adverse drug reactions and costs associated with drug therapy.
He further said that as drug experts they are trusted source of information and can monitor patients’ clinical outcomes either independently or as part of a collaborative and interdisciplinary team.
However, he explained that pharmacy practice has evolved over the years from the early role of medication dispensing to patient centredness resulting in heightened expectations of patients from pharmacists.
The expert noted that achieving this role would require the pharmacist to build lasting relationship with patients.
According to him, such responsibilities entail commitment on the part of the pharmacy to the wellbeing of the patients in form of therapeutical alliance through instrumentality of pharmacist-patient relationship.
“For this relationship to be feasible and effective the pharmacist has to involve helping to empower the patient, this involves helping him to discover and develop the capacity to be responsible for their medications and their own life.
“Studies have revealed that pharmacist relationship with a patient in medication management can resolve up to 80 per cent of drug related problems with associated reduction in healthcare costs of patient.
“It enables patient to ask questions, share decisions with the pharmacist with the aim of reaching an agreement about existing or potential problem and the need,” he said.
According to him, patient satisfaction is an indicator of the quality of healthcare service, among others.
He however urged pharmacists to make patient care as their priority in whatever they do in order to fulfill the ethical standard
