Brief Report
Assessing Limitations and Solutions in Developing Clinical Pharmacy Services in Sri Lankan Government Hospitals: A Report from a Hospital Pharmacists’ Workshop
Authors:
I. Coombes ,
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Cnr Butterfield St. and Bowen Bridge Rd, Brisbane, QLD 4029, AU
About I.
Pharmacy Department
Collaboration of Australian and Sri Lankans for Pharmacy Practice Education and Research
(CASPPER), Brisbane, Australia
School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence,
20 Cornwall St, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
J. Coombes,
Collaboration of Australian and Sri Lankans for Pharmacy Practice Education and Research (CASPPER), Brisbane, AU
About J.
School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence, 20 Cornwall St, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Pharmacy Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, 199 Ipswich Rd, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
J. E. Hough,
Collaboration of Australian and Sri Lankans for Pharmacy Practice Education and Research (CASPPER), Brisbane, LK
About J. E.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
J. H. Cope,
Collaboration of Australian and Sri Lankans for Pharmacy Practice Education and Research (CASPPER), Brisbane, AU
About J. H.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
B. O’Brien,
Collaboration of Australian and Sri Lankans for Pharmacy Practice Education and Research (CASPPER), Brisbane, AU
About B.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Pharmacy Department, Mackay Base Hospital, 475 Bridge Rd, Mackay, QLD 4740, Australia
A. P. Thilakarathne,
Teaching Hospital, Anuradhapura, LK
About A. P.
Department of Pharmacy
Society of Government Pharmacists, Sri Lanka
F. Mohamed
Collaboration of Australian and Sri Lankans for Pharmacy Practice Education and Research (CASPPER), Brisbane, LK
About F.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Abstract
Adverse events related to unsafe medication practices remains a leading cause of avoidable injury and mortality. Although there is vast evidence to support clinical pharmacy services in improving medication safety, pharmacy departments in Sri Lankan government hospitals still primarily manage the distribution and provision of medicines. Acknowledging this, a Hospital Pharmacists’ Workshop was organised to identify factors that may impede clinical pharmacy services and medication safety practices in Sri Lanka, and further, collate recommendations to overcome these factors. A representative sample of Chief Pharmacists from hospitals around the workshop location of Kandy, representatives of the Society of Government Pharmacists (SGP) and Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka (PSSL) were invited as a sample of convenience attended the workshop hosted by the University of Peradeniya. The workshop was facilitated by experienced pharmacists visiting on behalf of the Collaboration of Australians and Sri Lankans for Pharmacy Practice, Education and Research (CASPPER) group. Delegates were divided into groups for facilitator led discussions. Issues, solutions and recommendations were discussed and agreed upon as one large cohort. The consensus objective identified by attendees was to support government pharmacists in recognising and improving identified patient, pharmacist and system factors that hinder the implementation of clinical pharmacy services. Developing and promoting the adherence to best practice standards, instituting competency standards for pharmacists, and streamlining current processes were the main modifiable recommendations proffered by attendees. It is acknowledged that service improvement is not an easy task. Actions from national groups, individual hospitals and universities are required to implement effective and sustainable changes as identified by attendees at this workshop.
How to Cite:
Coombes, I., Coombes, J., Hough, J.E., Cope, J.H., O’Brien, B., Thilakarathne, A.P. and Mohamed, F., 2019. Assessing Limitations and Solutions in Developing Clinical Pharmacy Services in Sri Lankan Government Hospitals: A Report from a Hospital Pharmacists’ Workshop. Pharmaceutical Journal of Sri Lanka, 9(1), pp.52–61. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/pjsl.v9i1.47
Published on
02 Nov 2019.
Peer Reviewed
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