Telepharmacy during Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic: Health Opportunity & Risk

Abstract

         Coronavirus Disease-2019 pandemic resulted in changes of the public health service system in Thailand.  The health care system in many hospitals has been adapted to provide both conventional on-site doctor visits and telemedicine.  The prescribed medications are, therefore, delivered to the patients at the pharmacy counter and by telepharmacy.  As the result, pharmacists, thus, have additional responsibilities in giving counseling and recommendation on medications through telecommunication technology and delivering the medications to the patients and ensuring that they received correct and safe medications. Although telepharmacy provides an easier access of the patients to the medications, there is also a risk of miscommunication, particularly the understanding on how to use medications correctly by the patients. 

         This study reviewed and gathered information on telepharmacy service in Thailand and abroad, analyzed, discussed and summarized its health opportunities and risks.  It was found that the health opportunities included an easier access to the medication, reducing infection or spreading of infectious diseases, increasing medication compliance and reduction of medication errors, etc. The risks concerned included efficacy and efficiency of medication counselling, confidentiality and security of personal information, incomplete or miscommunication, medication delivery, continuing care, legal documentation, etc. The guidelines and crucial factors involved in telepharmacy service were discussed and summarized for the efficient and the effective treatments of the patients, lowering spreads of the infections, saving resources and the better quality of life of the Thai people.