Implementation of Ethical Criteria for Pharmaceutical Purchasing and Sales Promotion of Drug and Non-drug Supplies 2014 in Hospitals: Case Study at a Province of Northeastern Region

Abstract

Introduction: The  purposes  of  the  study  were  to  examine  the method and  barriers  in implementation  of  ethical  criteria  for  pharmaceutical  purchasing  and  sales  promotion  of  drug  and non-drug  supplies  2014  in  public  hospitals. Methods: Qualitative  study,  the  purposive  sampling technique  was  used  to  select  informants  and  collected  from  semi-structures  interview.  There  were  17 pharmacists who are the secretary of the Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee (PTC) in hospitals. The data was collected between October and November 2016. Results: Implementation: Most of the hospitals (16 hospitals) have the codes of practice on ethical criteria except one hospital because the hospital follows the regulations of the Office of the Prime Minister on Procurement B.E. 2535. Monitoring: regulated and enforced  by  the  PTC  found  that  the  hospitals  have  the  drug  and  non-drug  selecting  systems, prescribing system using generic names, and policies that associated with cost-effectiveness and patients{ safety. However, there was no record on any pharmaceutical company{s sponsorship either the forms of material support or financial support to the health care providers through the hospital regulating system. Barriers to implementing the codes of practice is the strength of the PTC, relationship between healthcare professionals  and  pharmaceutical  industries,  hospital  budgets,  and  practitioner  ethics. Conclusion: This study  found  that  most  hospitals  have  the  codes  of  practice  on  ethical  criteria  but  lack  of  monitoring, regulation, and enforcement system. Hospitals must have internal and external audit system. Set up reward rules for practitioners who implement the codes to be a model of the organization.