Assessment of the Process to Implement the Policy on Ethical Criteria for Drug Promotion into Action at Pathumratchawongsa Hospital, Amnatcharoen Province

Abstract

Objective: To assess the process to implement the policy on the ethical criteria for drug promotion into action at Pathumratchawongsa hospital, Amnatcharoen Province. Method: The study is qualitative research. The researcher was pharmacy director at Pathumratchawongsa hospital which was the study site. The researcher collected the data from related literature review, the evaluation results according to the criteria of the ethical criteria for drug promotion, minutes of the meeting of the Hospital Board during 2014-2015, annual report of pharmacy department during 2014-2015, together with the interview with hospital administration and heads of various units involving with the ethical criteria. Moreover, observation of the practice among personnel relevant to the ethical criteria was also conducted. Content analysis was employed to analyze the data. Results: Pathumratchawongsa hospital announced the policy on the implementation of on the ethical criteria and delegated the Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee as the responsible body.  The policy was well communicated to all in the hospital. The hospital set written guidelines for working according to the ethical criteria and also set guidelines for reporting and monitoring the result. The Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee established the procedures to examine the operation according to the ethical criteria both from internal and external units. After the announcement of the policy, total expenditures on purchasing and procurement of drug and non- drug items decreased when compared to those specified in the purchasing plan and those in the last fiscal year. This policy enabled the purchasing and procurement of drug and non- drug items to be transparent and accountable. Audit according to the criteria of the ethical criteria revealed that the hospital was at the level 4. The hospital had not recognized the units successfully follow the ethical criteria and had not punished those who violated the ethical criteria. Conclusion: The policy was important with no major difficulty in implementation in the hospital. Success of the implementation of the policy resulted from being a small community hospital, the support from administration, well cooperation from various levels of personnel, good coordination among units, well management skill and monitoring, as well as the adequacy of resources and technology. The hospital should establish and monitor transparency perception index in order to enhance the recognition of those who follow the criteria. Moreover, there is a need for the study on the impact of policy implementation at the province and regional level.