Real-World Impact of Transferring the Dispensing of Hospital-Only Medicines to Community Pharmacies During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ObjectivesIn Portugal, the dispensing of most outpatient specialty medicines is performed exclusively through hospital pharmacies and totally financed by the National Health Service. During the COVID-19 first wave, the government allowed the transfer of the dispensing of hospital-only medicines (HOMs) to community pharmacies (CPs). This study aimed to measure the value generated by the intervention of CP in the dispensing of HOM.MethodsA single-arm, before-and-after study with 3-month follow-up was conducted enrolling a randomly selected sample of patients or caregivers with at least 1 dispensation of HOM through CP. Data were collected by telephone interview. Main outcomes were patients’ self-reported adherence (Measure Treatment Adherence), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D 3-Level), satisfaction with the service, and costs related to HOM access.ResultsOverall 603 subjects were recruited to participate in the study (males 50.6%) with mean 55 years old (SD = 16). The already high mean adherence score to therapy improved significantly (P < .0001), and no statistically significant change (P > .5757) was found in the mean EQ-5D score between baseline (0.7 ± 0.3) and 3-month follow-up (0.8 ± 0.3). Annual savings account for €262.1/person, arising from travel expenses and absenteeism reduction. Participants reported a significant increase in satisfaction levels in all evaluated domains—pharmacist’s availability, opening hours, waiting time, privacy conditions, and overall experience.ConclusionsChanging the dispense setting to CP may promote better access and satisfaction. Moreover, it ensures the persistence of treatments, promotes savings for citizens, and reduces the burden of healthcare services, representing a crucial public health measure.     

连锁药店和单体药店药学服务现状对比分析初探

目的:调查济南市长清区连锁药店和单体药店药学服务开展现状并进行对比分析。方法:基于系统性、科学性、层次性和可操作性四个原则,选取济南市长清区四家单体药店和八家连锁药店,通过实地发放问卷,指导填写的方式对84位购药顾客进行问卷调查。结果:连锁药店和单体药店在药店提供的药学服务内容、药学服务形式、建立顾客用药档案和顾客选择药店依据四个方面存在差异,连锁药店药学服务在药店人员配备、药店优惠经营和药学服务仪器配备方面占优势,单体药店药学服务在药店社区化管理方面占优势。结论:济南市长清区连锁药店和单体药店药学服务仍需进一步提高,两种性质的药店应利用自身优势,相互借鉴,共同完善药学服务模式。     

The Internet and lifestyle drugs: an analysis of demographic characteristics,methods, and motives of online purchasers of illicit lifestyle drugs in the Netherlands

Abstract

Aims: The Internet has marked a revolution in the supply of illegal drugs, while at the same time, new types of illegal and semilegal drugs increasingly are becoming available. In order to deepen our understanding of the demand and supply of these new drugs on the Internet, this study focuses on the demographic characteristics, methods and preferences of people who purchase ‘lifestyle drugs’ through the surface web.

Methods: Data were obtained through the following two surveys: a prevalence study of 50,848 Dutch respondents and an in-depth study of 153 people who have purchased lifestyle drugs online.

Findings: At least 10.2% of the Dutch adult population has bought medicines online; the majority being lifestyle drugs (5.2%). In addition, an estimated 1.6% of the Dutch population has purchased medicines illicitly, with the majority of products concerning lifestyle drugs (0.9%). Illicit lifestyle drugs are primarily purchased through e-commerce sites and online pharmacies, and users report high satisfaction rates.

Conclusion: Purchasing lifestyle drugs is characterised by specific online dynamics, as the drugs are often openly accessible and the boundaries between legal and illegal sale blurred. As new types of drugs become available, it is important to further monitor customers’ preferences and experiences.     

基本医疗保险定点零售药店的配置公平性分析 ——以深圳市为例

目的:探究深圳市医保定点零售药店的公平性及分布特征的变化,为进一步优化医保零售药店资源配置的公平性提供思路.方法:运用基尼系数、洛伦兹曲线和集聚度等方法衡量深圳市医保零售药店的公平性,再通过地理信息系统(Geographic Information System,GIS)技术将其布局可视化,分析其空间差异.结果:深圳市...     

200例门诊药房退药分析及思考

目的：了解我院门诊药房退药。隋况,提出减少退药的措施与对策。方法：收集2010年6月-2010年12月门诊药房部分典型退药案例,进行归纳分析。结果：引起患者退药的原因主要包括：药物不良反应;不合理用药;自觉药物不对症;处方差错;医院信息系统问题;改变治疗方案;患者拒绝治疗;患者转诊或死亡;用药重复或大处方;医保费用问题。结论：加强医师及药师的业务素质,加强对患者配伍禁忌及不良反应的告知,加强处方管理、医患沟通;完善退药制度,可以减少急诊退药的发生。     

国外社会药房开展药学服务的影响因素

随着社会药房竞争的加剧以及病人对药学服务期望值的提高，提供优质的药学服务已经成为社会药房生存发展的关键因素和核心竞争力。本文通过研究国外社会药房开展药学服务的现状及影响因素，探讨影响药学服务深入开展的关键环节，为促进国内社会药房药学服务的深入开展提供参考。     

浅谈《零售商与供应商进货交易管理办法》对药品零售业的影响

目的为药品零售商与供应商应对《零售商与供应商进货交易管理办法》(下简称《办法》)可能产生的影响提供参考。方法通过研究《办法》的出台背景和药品零售业的现状,分析该《办法》对药品零售业可能产生的影响。结果与结论药品零售业受政策性因素影响较大,《办法》的出台有望解决药品零售业中拖欠货款、不合理收取通道费用等不规范经营问题,并对药品零售商与供应商之间的力量对比产生影响。     

Distribution of pharmaceuticals ? a Norwegian logistic perspective

There is a general concern about rising costs of pharmaceutical expences. One political measure is a more efficient distribution system, which can take the form of new channels for retailing. In Norway mailorder pharmacy (MOP) has been brought to the agenda due to the recently proposed law regulating pharmacies (Apoteklov), market developments abroad, demand for selfmedication, the increase in OTCproducts and advances in information technology. Mailorder pharmacy involves direct delivery of medications through postal mail to patients or those responsible for dispensing medication. With reference to the USA, mailorder pharmacy has filled a niche in the market and several other countries are following. We are convinced that it is possible to maintain a high level of service quality in the sense of safety, councelling and compliance, and that there is a potential to develop a model for this distribution form in Norway. We believe that the actors in the Norwegian pharmaceutical market are better served in taking a more active role in this area and where possible initiating pilot projects in mailorder distribution. The pharmacists will continue to play an important role as a retail outlet and should, with their influence over patients, their knowledge and experience, contribute towards developing MOP to be a safe and complementary sales outlet. Developing such a solution demands the right balance between performance and quality on the one hand and efficiency on the other; two criteria, which we believe, do not contradict each other.