Community Pharmacists’ Opinions on Pharmacy Services of Independent Pharmacies under the Universal Health Coverage

Abstract

Objective: To survey community pharmacist’s opinions on pharmacy services within independent pharmacies under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and problems and barriers in service provision. Methods: A study was a cross-sectional survey research. Population and sample were the same i.e., 426 accredited independent drug stores all over the country. Research instrument was the questionnaires mailed to pharmacists with the duty to act in accredited drug stores. The questionnaires covered the items on the abilities, appropriateness, problems and barriers in providing 18 services in the Project on Health Promotion Services in Accredited Community Pharmacies and the Project on the Development of Continuing Care for Patients with Chronic Diseases by Accredited Community Pharmacies to strengthen the UHC. The study collected the data during December 2016 to February 2017. Results: Two hundred thirty five questionnaires (55.17%) were completed and returned from 93 pharmacies currently participating in the Project of UHC, 35 pharmacies participating in the Project in the past and 107 of those never participating in the Project. Most of respondents from pharmacies participating in the Project at present or in the past stated that two third of the services in the Project could be carried out at the moderate to easiest level. Furthermore, nearly all services were appropriate, except for home visit. Forty percent of the pharmacists from pharmacies participating in the Project in the past reported that home visit was not appropriate to include for the Project anymore. The proportion of pharmacies with this opinion was significantly higher than that in those currently participating in the Project. The problems and barriers of service provision within the Project including inadequate number of pharmacists, difficulty in coordination, not being accepted from hospitals in the case of patient referral, long duration of service, inadequate skills for services and not enough compensation were reported by 63.28%, 60.16%, 53.91%, 45.31%, 35.94% and 27.34% of subjects, respectively. Conclusion: Community pharmacy services under the UHC were practical at the moderate to easiest levels and appropriate to be continued in the Project. Major problems and barriers of service provision were inadequate number of service providers, poor coordination between hospitals and pharmacies, and poor distribution of the information on the Project. Thus, Project’s manager should Increase press releases of the project, create systematic coordination with the hospitals for referring the patients and resolve the problem on number of service providers, in order to sustain the Project.