HOSPITAL PHARMACY IN THE SPOTLIGHT: ADDRESSING CHALLENGES AND CONTRIBUTING TO RESILIENT HEALTH SYSTEMS

Abstract

The evolving healthcare landscape, shaped by demographic shifts and technological advancements, underscores the crucial linkage between primary and secondary care. Formerly centered around products, pharmacy now adopts patient-focused approaches, fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals. Technological progress, especially in molecular drug designs, propels medicine toward evidence-based practices. This transformation presents challenges to pharmacy roles at both primary and hospital care levels, urging nations to reassess workforce capacities and skills. Despite being the third-largest global profession, the uneven distribution of pharmacist’s impacts healthcare delivery, necessitating task shifting to address human resource shortages and highlighting the enduring importance of hospital pharmacy in a primary healthcare-focused context. Studies confirm the positive impact of pharmacist involvement in patient care, improving outcomes and reducing costs, while the prevalence of medication errors emphasizes the necessity for pharmacist interventions. Global commitments, exemplified by the Millennium Development Goals, emphasize the role of pharmacists in integrating pharmaceutical services, with the World Health Organization setting standards and collaborating with the International Pharmaceutical Federation on evidence-based practices. Challenges in procurement and supply chain coordination underscore the intricacies of healthcare systems, emphasizing the pivotal role of pharmaceutical personnel, including hospital pharmacists. In conclusion, collaboration with WHO and global initiatives is vital for fortifying health systems, advocating ethically sound healthcare practices, and pursuing clinically effective and cost-efficient patient care to reallocate resources, contributing to a resilient health system.