Nigerians and consumers of medicines in the country have been admonished to embrace the ideals of the community pharmacist home health care initiative as a benefit package preferred by Home Care Pharmacists within the sector.

President, of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Pharm Olumide Akintayo, who described home care as a paradigm shift in the country, lamented that the annual increasing incidence of chronic diseases has given direct impact to an increase in medical expense as well as the public health system.

Akintayo who spoke on this year’s World Pharmacists Day, observed that most patients with chronic diseases require continuous treatment and several have faced difficulties of Drug Related Problem, DRPs, drug use risk and patient non-compliance resulting in ineffective treatment.

In a presentation entitled “Access to Pharmacists is Access to Health”, he observed that to encourage safety in drug usage, enhance effective treatment of patients with chronic diseases, and promote good health in the community, participation in Community Pharmacist Home Health Care for Chronic Patients Programme proposed by the PSN has become necessary.

“Experiences obtained from participating in Community Pharmacist Home Health Care for Chronic Patients Programme compel developing potential and capability to learn and to exchange views with our patients,” he noted.

Making a case for Home Care Pharmacists, he said it helps to encourage appropriate patient’s health behaviour in their livelihood and not only their physical health, but also their mental health.

Akintayo said the changing role of pharmacists on a global level, is driving the focus of pharmacists in assuming key roles in health promotion, disease prevention and the management of systems and resources associated with health care delivery, and that greater attention is being paid to the quantity and quality of health care practitioners.

“Recognising the many benefits that can accrue to society through the optimal use of pharmacists in health care delivery, many countries are undergoing (or planning to undergo) major transformation of pharmacy education.

“They are examining the roles and responsibilities that pharmacists can and should have in the delivery of health care services, and articulating and competencies that are required to effectively perform these roles and responsibilities.

“They are considering what levels, models and duration of education and training are needed to ensure that pharmacists achieve these competencies before entering practice, and, importantly, maintain and enhance them throughout their professional careers,” he stated.

By Sola Ogundipe