Syllabus of Community Pharmacy and Management
Community pharmacies play a vital role in providing healthcare services to local communities. These pharmacies are often referred to as retail or neighborhood pharmacies and are located in residential areas, making them easily accessible to the public. In addition to dispensing prescription medications, community pharmacies offer various services that contribute to the overall well-being of individuals. This article explores the concept of community pharmacy and delves into the essential aspects of its management.
Community Pharmacy and Management is a subject in Diploma in Pharmacy that focuses on the practical aspects of pharmacy practice in community settings. Students will learn about the roles and responsibilities of a community pharmacist, principles of patient counseling and education, legal and ethical considerations in community pharmacy, pharmaceutical care, inventory management, prescription handling, over-the-counter (OTC) medication sales, customer service, and business management in a community pharmacy setting.
Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to-
- Describe the establishment, legal requirements, and effective administration of a community pharmacy.
- Professionally handle prescriptions and dispense medications.
- Counsel patients about the disease, prescription and or non-prescription medicines.
- Perform basic health screening on patients and interpret the reports in the community pharmacy settings.
- Definition, History, and Development of Community Pharmacy: Students will learn about the definition and evolution of community pharmacy, both internationally and in the Indian context. They will understand the role of community pharmacy in providing accessible healthcare services to the public.
- Professional Responsibilities of Community Pharmacists: This topic focuses on the ethical and professional responsibilities of community pharmacists. Students will learn about Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that ensure the delivery of quality pharmaceutical care.
- Prescription and Prescription Handling: Students will study the different components of a prescription, its legal aspects, and proper handling procedures. They will learn about labeling dispensed medications, including main labels, ancillary labels, and pictograms. The dispensing process, Good Dispensing Practices, and strategies to minimize dispensing errors will also be covered.
- Communication Skills: This topic emphasizes the importance of effective communication skills for community pharmacists. Students will learn about different types of communication skills, including verbal and written communication, interactions with professionals and patients, and the significance of body language. Patient interview techniques will also be explored.
- Patient Counselling: Students will understand the definition and benefits of patient counselling. They will learn about the stages of patient counselling, including introduction, counselling content, counselling process, and closing the session. Strategies to overcome barriers to effective counselling will be discussed. Specific counselling points for chronic diseases/disorders such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and AIDS will be covered. The importance and use of Patient Package Inserts (PPIs) and Patient Information Leaflets will also be explored.
- Medication Adherence: This topic focuses on medication adherence and the factors that influence non-adherence. Students will learn strategies to overcome non-adherence and promote patient compliance with medication regimens.
- Health Screening Services in Community Pharmacy: Students will gain an understanding of various health screening services provided in community pharmacies. They will learn about the scope, importance, and purpose of health screening services for routine monitoring, early detection, and referral of undiagnosed cases.
- Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medications: This topic covers OTC medications and the role of pharmacists in their dispensing. Students will learn about OTC medications in India, counseling for OTC products, promoting safe practices during self-medication, and providing advice for common conditions such as pain management, cough, cold, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, fever, sore throat, skin disorders, and oral health.
- Community Pharmacy Management: Students will be introduced to the legal requirements and considerations for setting up a community pharmacy. They will learn about site selection, pharmacy design, vendor selection, procurement, inventory management, financial planning, accountancy, pharmacy operation software, customer relationship management (CRM), audits in pharmacies, SOPs for pharmacy management, and an introduction to digital health, mHealth, and online pharmacies.
Conclusion
As a result of performing a variety of vital tasks, neighbourhood pharmacies serve as the foundation of local healthcare services. By distributing medications, offering patient counselling, and other health services, they function as easily accessible sources of care. Community chemists work with other healthcare providers to improve patient care, as well as remain up to date on new technologies. Community pharmacies have a big impact on people’s wellbeing through encouraging health and wellness, handling insurance and legal issues, and funding ongoing professional development. Community pharmacy will keep playing a crucial role in boosting patient outcomes and increasing accessibility to healthcare as they accept emerging trends and challenges. They are required to promote healthier neighbourhoods and provide the general public with high-quality healthcare services.