STATE OF ORGANIZATION OF DISPENSING DRUGS FROM PHARMACY: VIEW OF PHARMACEUTICAL EXPERTS

Abstract

The aim of the work. Research of peculiarities of a modern condition of dispensing medicines (drugs) from pharmacies and their structural divisions based on the survey of pharmaceutical experts (PEs) of the western areas of Ukraine.

Materials and Methods. Regulatory support for the dispensing drugs from pharmacies and their structural units in Ukraine. Questionnaire answered by 141 PEs from Ivano-Frankivsk (36.2 %), Lviv (22.0 %), Ternopil (21.3 %), Zakarpattia (7.8 %), Volyn (7.1 %) and Chernivtsi (5.6 %) regions. Methods – generalization, systematization, questionnaire.

Results and Discussion. In Ukraine, there are 36 approved pharmacists’ protocols (protocols of pharmaceutical care (PC)), the vast majority (22) are for symptomatic treatment of diseases. 71 % of PE respondents use PC protocols in their work partially, 19% of respondents – completely, 10 % – do not use at all. For 13 of the 22 protocols of PC for symptomatic treatment of diseases, PE respondents consider self-diagnosis to be problematic, the protocols of PC in dysfunction of the gallbladder and bile duct and enzymatic insufficiency of the pancreas were named most often (34 % of respondents). 80 % of respondents sell prescription drugs without a prescription, motivating this by lack of established practice of prescribing by doctors (60.2 %), the dependence of their own salary on sales (23.0 %), the lack of a clear control mechanism for the control over prescription dispensing drugs (15.0 %). Conditions that would force respondents to comply with the legislation in this area are the presence of effective control over prescription dispensing drugs by the State Medical Service of Ukraine or other bodies (80.9  %), the threat of being fired (39 %), sanctions (34 %), lack of dependence the amount of salary on sales (24.1 %), the introduction of electronic prescriptions for prescription drugs (21.9 %).

Conclusion. Based on the conducted survey, 141 PEs of 6 of the western regions of Ukraine, a low level of knowledge of the criteria for classifying drugs as over-the-counter has been established; inadequate degree of respondents’ acquaintance with the protocols of PC and their use in practice; the difficulty of patient’s self-establishment of a number of diagnoses for which protocols of symptomatic treatment are provided; non-compliance with the conditions of prescription drugs release by the majority of respondents.