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The Particularities of Pharmaceutical Care in Improving Public Health Service during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

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  • Steliana Ghibu

    (Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6A Louis Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Anca Maria Juncan

    (Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 2A Lucian Blaga St., 550169 Sibiu, Romania)

  • Luca Liviu Rus

    (Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 2A Lucian Blaga St., 550169 Sibiu, Romania)

  • Adina Frum

    (Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 2A Lucian Blaga St., 550169 Sibiu, Romania)

  • Carmen Maximiliana Dobrea

    (Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 2A Lucian Blaga St., 550169 Sibiu, Romania)

  • Adriana Aurelia Chiş

    (Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 2A Lucian Blaga St., 550169 Sibiu, Romania)

  • Felicia Gabriela Gligor

    (Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 2A Lucian Blaga St., 550169 Sibiu, Romania)

  • Claudiu Morgovan

    (Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 2A Lucian Blaga St., 550169 Sibiu, Romania)

Abstract

Nowadays, humanity is confronted with one of the most difficult challenges. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified for the first time in Hubei, China in December 2019 and produced the COVID-19 pandemic, a devastating disease that led to many complications and deaths. The authorities and the global healthcare system have been alerted regarding the prevention and treatment of this pathology. Even though worldwide quarantine was declared, health care professionals, including pharmacists, have been at the frontline in this war. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the authorities relied on the involvement of the community, hospital, or clinical pharmacists in offering support to the entire population. Also, the authorities implemented measures for emergency authorization of the vaccines, or the drugs used in COVID-19 treatment. In order to facilitate the population’s access to healthcare services, the authorities have established regulations regarding, the extension of prescriptions by pharmacists, working hours, prevention of shortages and price-increase, drive-thru services, etc. However, several countries have taken financial measures to support the pharmacies’ activity. At the same time, pharmaceutical associations elaborated guidelines for the protection of pharmacists and patients alike. Additionally, the pharmacies have come to support the health system and patients by adapting pharmaceutical care to the new needs like preparation and supply of disinfectants, patient care, information, and counseling, especially to COVID-19 patients, as well as the implementation of home drugs-delivery systems. The important roles played by pharmacists were to perform COVID-19 tests and further vaccines, as well as to combat the abundance of misinformation and fake news. The clinical and hospital pharmacy services have also been adapted. Strengthening the role of the pharmacist in the medical team was important for the purpose of providing correct and complete information regarding drugs used in the COVID-19 pathology. In all these activities, pharmacists needed creativity and professionalism, but also the support of pharmacy owners and managers. With this crisis, pharmaceutical care has entered a new phase, demonstrating the ability of pharmacists to be competent and accessible providers of public health. Based on this information, we conducted a narrative review whose purpose was to identify the impact of the authorities’ decisions on pharmaceutical practice, the involvement of professional associations, and the responsibilities of the pharmacy owners and management. On the other hand, we performed a global assessment on the pharmaceutical care services provided by community pharmacists as well as by clinical or hospital pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Steliana Ghibu & Anca Maria Juncan & Luca Liviu Rus & Adina Frum & Carmen Maximiliana Dobrea & Adriana Aurelia Chiş & Felicia Gabriela Gligor & Claudiu Morgovan, 2021. "The Particularities of Pharmaceutical Care in Improving Public Health Service during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9776-:d:637173
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Piotr Merks & Urszula Religioni & Krzysztof Bilmin & Jedrzej Lewicki & Marta Jakubowska & Anna Waksmundzka-Walczuk & Aleksandra Czerw & Agnieszka Barańska & Joanna Bogusz & Katarzyna Plagens-Rotman & , 2021. "Readiness and Willingness to Provide Immunization Services after Pilot Vaccination Training: A Survey among Community Pharmacists Trained and Not Trained in Immunization during the COVID-19 Pandemic i," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Smaranda Adina Cosma & Marius Bota & Cristina Fleșeriu & Claudiu Morgovan & Mădălina Văleanu & Dan Cosma, 2020. "Measuring Patients’ Perception and Satisfaction with the Romanian Healthcare System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Francesca Baratta & Giulio Mario Visentin & Lorenzo Ravetto Enri & Marco Parente & Irene Pignata & Francesco Venuti & Giovanni Di Perri & Paola Brusa, 2021. "Community Pharmacy Practice in Italy during the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Pandemic: Regulatory Changes and a Cross-Sectional Analysis of Seroprevalence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-13, February.
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