Strategies in Strengthening Drugstores to Fulfill Good Pharmacy Practice in Udonthani

Abstract

Objective: To develop strategies for in strengthening drugstores to meet the Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) in Udon Thani and to assess the effect of such strategies on the ability to comply with GPP and the satisfaction among owners of modern drugstores with the strategies. Methods: This study was an action research. The participants were all modern drugstores in Udon Thani. The researcher employed a 4-step quality cycle including 1) planning by studying the context and results of the GPP assessment, training with the speakers from Food and Drug Administration, and a forum based on experts, with participants consisting of owners of modern drugstores and authorities at the district level in order to analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for formulating the strategies; 2) implementation of the strategies (do) and auditing of pharmacies according to the GPP; 3) checking the outcomes to evaluate the strategies; and 4) improving the strategies based on the problems identifies (action) and implementing the revised strategies in the next cycle. Results: The strategies consisted of 1) informing the drugstores on the GPP criteria, asking drugstores to conduct a self-assessment as a part of inspection according to the GPP, assessment of knowledge on the relevant laws, drugstore management during the COVID-19 pandemic and inviting all drugstores to join this project with government agencies 2) using the Line official to answer questions from drugstore owners and 3) providing instruments such as GPP manuals, stickers according to the criteria. After implementing the strategies, it was found that all drugstores were able to comply with the GPP. Mean scores of the GPP assessment were as follows: domain 1 on establishment (98.37±3.57), domain 2 on equipment (100±0.0), domain 3 on personnel (98.36±4.29), domain 4 on drug quality control (98.80±2.85) and domain on 5 on pharmacy practice (98.94±1.24). Owners of modern drugstores were satisfied with the strategies with overall score at a very high level (4.66±0.60 from a full score of 5). Conclusion: The developed strategies focused on preparing drugstores to be informed about the GPP criteria, laws, and useful information for pharmacies through easily accessible channels. The strategies enabled all modern drugstores in the province being able to comply with the GPP with none of criteria rated as improvement needed. However, there were still some issues needed further development for sustainable quality. Authorities should clarify details, goals and intentions of the strategies to the owners of modern drugstores for strengthening the establishments, equipment and promoting good pharmacy practices in drugstores. Participatory approach in solving the existing problem should not increase too much of the burden on drugstore owners. This action also prepares the drugstores in Udon Thani to become a service unit in the health insurance system.