Articles

Integrating pharmaceutical systems strengthening in the current global health scenario: three ‘uncomfortable truths’

The response to emergency public health challenges such as HIV, TB, and malaria has been successful in mobilising resources and scaling up treatment for communicable diseases. However, many of the remaining ch...

Authors: Tamara Hafner, Marlon Banda, Jillian Kohler, Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar, Murray Lumpkin, Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Emmanuel Nfor, Francis Aboagye-Nyame and Javier Guzman

Clinical preceptor competencies for a better pharmacy education: a suggested framework for Lebanon

Experiential education is a core element in developing the ability of pharmacy students to apply theory to practice, solve problems, and acquire standard pharmacist competencies. To achieve this goal, precepto...

Authors: Abeer Zeitoun, Hala Sacre, Souheil Hallit, Rony M. Zeenny, Georges Sili and Pascale Salameh

Pharmacists and COVID-19

In the fight against COVID-19, frontline health workers have been vital to keeping the pandemic at bay, but recognition of individual professions’ efforts have been inconsistent at all levels. Pharmacists arou...

Authors: Ali Elbeddini, Thulasika Prabaharan, Sarah Almasalkhi and Cindy Tran

Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 inhibitors use in type II diabetic patients in a tertiary hospital

In Malaysia, for more than a decade, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) are among the oral antidiabetic medications used as monotherapy or in combination to manage type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The...

Authors: Woh Yon Mak, Jivanraj R. Nagarajah, Hannah Abdul Halim, Anitha Ramadas, Zulsairi Mohd Pauzi, Lay Ting Pee and Nirmala Jagan

Pharmacists reinventing their roles to effectively respond to COVID-19: a global report from the international pharmacists for anticoagulation care taskforce (iPACT)

SARS-CoV2 is dramatically impacting the global population. Worldwide, pharmacists are changing their roles and being increasingly recognized for their role as essential service providers. This commentary provi...

Authors: Filipa Alves da Costa, Vivian Lee, Silvana Nair Leite, Maria Dolores Murillo, Tom Menge and Sotiris Antoniou

Predictors of prolonged length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality among adult patients admitted at the surgical ward of Jimma University medical center, Ethiopia: prospective observational study

Data regarding prolonged length of hospital stay (PLOS) and in-hospital mortality are paramount to evaluate efficiency and quality of surgical care as well as for rational resource utilization, allocation, and...

Authors: Gosaye Mekonen Tefera, Beshadu Bedada Feyisa, Gurmu Tesfaye Umeta and Tsegaye Melaku Kebede

COVID-19 and community pharmacy services in Pakistan: challenges, barriers and solution for progress

In the wake of atrocious rise in COVID-19 cases, developed countries are leveraging a range of community pharmacy services with the goal of improving access to essential medication and healthcare services. Whi...

Authors: Muhammad Atif and Iram Malik

Correction to: Amid COVID-19: the importance of developing an positive adverse drug reaction (ADR) and medical device incident (MDI) reporting culture for Global Health and public safety

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Authors: Ali Elbeddini, Aniko Yeats and Stephanie Lee

Evaluation of drive-through pharmacy service in Queen Elizabeth Hospital Malaysia

In 2015, the drive-through pharmacy was first introduced in Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Malaysia as one of the pharmacy value-added services. Therefore, it is imperative to review the service for further a...

Authors: Jerry Ee Siung Liew, Aizan Adifarhan bin Abdul Gapar and Lik Ting Shim

The role of accountability in the performance of Jazia prime vendor system in Tanzania

Access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines for all is a central component of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). However, the availability of quality medicines in peripheral healthcare ...

Authors: August Kuwawenaruwa, Fabrizio Tediosi, Brigit Obrist, Emmy Metta, Fiona Chiluda, Karin Wiedenmayer and Kaspar Wyss

What influences antibiotic sales in rural Bangladesh? A drug dispensers’ perspective

Antibiotic resistance poses a great threat to global health, especially in low- and middle-income countries with a high infectious disease burden and limited resources. In spite of regulations, antibiotics are...

Authors: Mohammad Abdul Matin, Wasif Ali Khan, Mohammad Mahbubul Karim, Sabeena Ahmed, Johannes John-Langba, Osman A. Sankoh, Margaret Gyapong, John Kinsman and Heiman Wertheim

Pharmacist intervention amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: from direct patient care to telemedicine

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has placed enormous pressures on the Canadian healthcare system. Patients are expected to stay home in order to contain the spread of the virus, but understandably h...

Authors: Ali Elbeddini and Aniko Yeats

The transition to universal health coverage in low and middle-income countries: new opportunities for community pharmacists

Authors: Vivian Naidoo, Fatima Suleman and Varsha Bangalee

Understanding the decision making process of selection of medicines in the private sector in South Africa – lessons for low-middle income countries

The affordability of essential medicines is a challenge in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). One of The Lancet Commission’s recommendations on financing of essential medicines is to ensure governments...

Authors: Velisha Ann Perumal-Pillay and Fatima Suleman

Sterilization plan of the used metered dose inhalers (MDI) to avoid wastage amid COVID-19 pandemic drug shortage

Background

Authors: Ali Elbeddini

Amid COVID-19: the importance of developing an positive adverse drug reaction (ADR) and medical device incident (MDI) reporting culture for Global Health and public safety

Amid COVID-19 Crisis, reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and medical device incidents (MDIs) to Health Canada or health authorities in every country is crucial for monitoring medication safety and improving ...

Authors: Ali Elbeddini, Aniko Yeats and Stephanie Lee

Current regulatory approaches for accessing potential COVID-19 therapies

This commentary aims to elaborate challenges in the regulatory approaches for accessing and investigating COVID-19 potential therapies either with off-label use, compassionate use, emergency use or for clinica...

Authors: Vesa Halimi, Armond Daci, Simona Stojanovska, Irina Panovska-Stavridis, Milena Stevanovic, Venko Filipce and Aleksandra Grozdanova

A step towards gender equity to strengthen the pharmaceutical workforce during COVID-19

There is plenty of evidence to support that women leaders are needed in the health and pharmaceutical sectors, although most of the leadership positions in global health are predominantly occupied by men. This...

Authors: Nadia Bukhari, Mehr Manzoor, Huma Rasheed, Bismah Nayyer, Madeeha Malik and Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar

Oxytocin quality: evidence to support updated global recommendations on oxytocin for postpartum hemorrhage

The use of quality injectable oxytocin effectively prevents and treats postpartum hemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), characteristics of oxyt...

Authors: Peter Lambert, Michelle P McIntosh, Mariana Widmer, Lawrence Evans, Megan Rauscher, Rutendo Kuwana, Fiona Theunissen, Beth Yeager and Helen Petach

Together we unite: the role of the Commonwealth in achieving universal health coverage through pharmaceutical care amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

The world currently faces unprecedented health challenges as COVID-19 poses a huge threat to health systems, economies and societies as we know it. The events of the current COVID-19 pandemic have further emph...

Authors: Amy Hai Yan Chan, Victoria Rutter, Diane Ashiru-Oredope, Chloe Tuck and Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar

Job satisfaction among pharmacy professionals working in public hospitals and its associated factors, eastern Ethiopia

Poor job satisfaction has been associated with less productivity and high staff turnover. Various factors are thought to contribute for job dissatisfaction among pharmacy professionals and very limited studies...

Authors: Yohanes Ayele, Behailu Hawulte, Tilayie Feto, G. Vijai Basker and Yadeta Dessie Bacha

A simplified checklist for the visual inspection of finished pharmaceutical products: a way to empower frontline health workers in the fight against poor-quality medicines

Substandard and falsified medicines, mainly prevalent in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), cause avoidable morbidity and mortality, and put at stake the performance of health systems. They may be preven...

Authors: B. Schiavetti, E. Wynendaele, V. Melotte, J. Van der Elst, B. De Spiegeleer and R. Ravinetto

Knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use and resistance among undergraduate healthcare students at University of Rwanda

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an imminent threat to modern medicine. As the efficacy of treatment regimens is reduced, mortality and morbidity attributed to infectious diseases is expected to rise dramatic...

Authors: Lyduine Nisabwe, Hirwa Brice, Marie Christine Umuhire, Olivia Gwira, Jean De Dieu Harelimana, Zephanie Nzeyimana, Osee Rurambya Sebatunzi, Emmanuel Kamanzi Rusingiza, Innocent Hahirwa and Claude Mambo Muvunyi

Pharmacists at the frontline beating the COVID-19 pandemic

As the lockdowns are being observed all over the globe and the national level pharmacy professionals are performing frontline roles, this editorial highlights the role of pharmacists in the COVID − 19 pandemic...

Authors: Nadia Bukhari, Huma Rasheed, Bismah Nayyer and Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar

Price variation among different brands of anticancer medicines available in hospital pharmacies of Nepal

To assess the variation in price among different brands of anticancer medicines available in hospital pharmacies at Nepalese cancer hospitals.

Authors: Sunil Shrestha, Ramesh Sharma Poudel, Bhuvan KC, Bhupendra Kumar Poudel, Binaya Sapkota, Sabina Sharma and Anil Khadka

Public reporting on pharmaceutical industry-led access programs: alignment with the WHO medicine programs evaluation checklist

There has been increased demand for greater public accountability and transparency of private sector-led global health partnership programs. This study critically reviews and pilot tests the World Health Organ...

Authors: Chukwuemeka A. Umeh, Peter C. Rockers, Richard Laing, Ovi Wagh and Veronika J. Wirtz

Advertisement of antibiotics for upper respiratory infections and equity in access to treatment: a cross-sectional study in Nepal

Pharmaceutical companies actively advertise their branded antibiotics, which influence their sales at community pharmacies. The major proportion of out of pocket health spending is on medicine; and affordabili...

Authors: Pramesh Koju, Stéphane P. Rousseau, Marc Van der Putten, Archana Shrestha and Rajeev Shrestha

Abstracts from the 1st JoPPP Conference on Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice

Authors: Salman Mehmood, Syed Muhammad Farid Hasan, Chinara Maratovna Razzakova, Liliya Eugenevna Ziganshina, Azjargal Ganbat, Tsetsegmaa Sanjjav, Bruce Sunderland, Gantuya Dorj, Gereltuya Dorj, Satibi Satibi, M. Rifqi Rokhman, Hardika Aditama, Ika Kartini, Rini Ambarsari, Fajar Pramesti, Peng Yeow Loh…

Herbal medicines: a cross-sectional study to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of use among Jordanian adults

Understanding why adults resort to herbal medicine can help in planning interventions aimed at increasing awareness regarding herbal use. This study sought to investigate the prevalence and to determine factor...

Authors: Faris El-Dahiyat, Mohamed Rashrash, Sawsan Abuhamdah, Rana Abu Farha and Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar

Supplementary protection certificates and their impact on access to medicines in Europe: case studies of sofosbuvir, trastuzumab and imatinib

In recent years, there has been increasing pressure on public health systems in high-income countries due to high medicines prices, one of the underlying causes of which are the market monopolies granted to ph...

Authors: Yuanqiong Hu, Dimitri Eynikel, Pascale Boulet and Gaelle Krikorian

The association of HIV and easy access to narcotics in Pakistan; calling drug policy makers

HIV in Pakistan is concentrated to people who inject drugs (PWID) and easy accessibility of narcotics to this population cannot be disregarded as a risk factor of growing encumbrance of AIDS in the country. Al...

Authors: Tauqeer Hussain Mallhi, Yusra Habib Khan, Amjad Khan, Nasser Hadal Alotaibi, Abdulaziz Ibrahim Alzarea and Furqan Khurshid Hashmi

Costs and effectiveness of the supervision, performance assessment and recognition (SPARS) strategy for medicines management in Uganda

Authors: Brendan Kwesiga, Anita Katharina Wagner, Morries Seru, Dennis Ross-Degnan and Birna Trap

Correction to: Public procurement of medicines: scoping review of the scientific literature in South America

Following publication of the original article [1], we have been notified of a few errors in the figures:

Authors: Cristiane Mota Soares, Beatriz Nascimento, Luisa Arueira Chaves, Rondineli Mendes Silva, Maria Auxiliadora Oliveira and Vera Lucia Luiza

Imbalance in glycemic control between the treatment and placebo groups in cardiovascular outcome trials in type 2 diabetes

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is accepted as the most reliable marker for assessing chronic glycemia. The present study aimed to investigate glycemic control in cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) performed by...

Authors: Rumiko Shimazawa and Masayuki Ikeda

Factors contributing to medicines wastage in public health facilities of South West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia: a qualitative study

Medicines wastage is one of the challenges of health supply chain management in developing countries including Ethiopia. However, there is lack of objective evidence on the detailed underlying causes of medici...

Authors: Esayas Tadesse Gebremariam, Dawit Teshome Gebregeorgise and Teferi Gedif Fenta

Pharmacotherapy of infertility in Ghana: retrospective study at the cape coast teaching hospital

Infertility is a major challenge for couples globally. Due to low income levels and the high cost of other assisted reproductive techniques, pharmacotherapy remain the major first line treatment option for inf...

Authors: Stephen Mensah Arhin, Kwesi Boadu Mensah, Evans Agbeno, Vitus Sambo Badii and Charles Ansah

Abstracts from the 4th International PPRI Conference 2019: Medicines access challenge – The value of pricing and reimbursement policies

Authors:

Challenges constraining availability and affordability of insulin in Bengaluru region (Karnataka, India): evidence from a mixed-methods study

Considering limited global access to affordable insulin, we evaluated insulin access in public and private health sectors in Bengaluru, India.

Authors: Gautam Satheesh, M. K. Unnikrishnan and Abhishek Sharma

A qualitative exploration of Bahrain and Kuwait herbal medicine registration systems: policy implementation and readiness to change

The Kuwaiti drug regulatory authority (DRA) lack a structured classification system for the assessment of imported herbal medicines (HMs), which leads to ambiguity in the registration process. This study aimed...

Authors: Azhar H. Alostad, Douglas T. Steinke and Ellen I. Schafheutle

Eliminating medicine waste in a Finnish university hospital — a qualitative study

Medicine waste in hospitals leads to severe economic loss. This waste emerges for a number of reasons. Medicines are often ordered in too large quantities, which leads to stock expiring without being dispensed...

Authors: Teijo Peltoniemi and Reima Suomi

Public procurement of medicines: scoping review of the scientific literature in South America

Authors: Cristiane Mota Soares, Beatriz Nascimento, Luisa Arueira Chaves, Rondineli Mendes Silva, Maria Auxiliadora Oliveira and Vera Lucia Luiza

Perceptions and trends in the use of community pharmacies in Ghana

To examine the patterns in utilization of community pharmacies and perceptions of the general public towards community pharmacists’ role in health services delivery.

Authors: Grace Adjei Okai, Gordon Abekah-Nkrumah and Patrick Opoku Asuming

Regulatory framework in Pakistan: situation analysis of medicine quality and future recommendations

Quality issues in pharmaceuticals are identified as a huge global and public health problem, especially with reference to low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan. The 2011 “Fake Drug Crisis” acted as a ...

Authors: Huma Rasheed, Ludwig Hoellein, Khalid Saeed Bukhari and Ulrike Holzgrabe

Assessing national governance of medicine promotion: an exploratory study in Ghana to trial a structured set of indicators

Two billion people worldwide, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries, cannot consistently access required essential medications, thus affecting their ability to attain optimal health outcomes. Acces...

Authors: Marcia McLean, Jillian Clare Kohler and Danny Edwards

Systematic review for the development of a pharmaceutical and medical products prioritization framework

To identify and analyze the criteria, approaches, and conceptual frameworks, used for national/international priority setting.

Authors: Alberto Frutos Pérez-Surio, Mercedes Gimeno-Gracia, Ma. Aránzazu Alcácera López, Ma. Asunción Sagredo Samanes, Ma. del Puerto Pardo Jario and Ma. del Tránsito Salvador Gómez

The Brazilian private pharmaceutical market after the first ten years of the generics law

To describe changes in the private market for selected originators, branded generics (‘similares’), and generic products during the 10 years following passage of the Brazilian Generics Law.

Authors: Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi, Anita K. Wagner, Isabel Cristina Martins Emmerick, Luisa Arueira Chaves, Peter Stephens and Dennis Ross-Degnan

Implementing a clozapine supply service in Australian community pharmacies: barriers and facilitators

Clozapine is the most effective antipsychotic for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, although serious adverse effects such as agranulocytosis and cardiomyopathy limit its use. In July 2015, Australian regulati...

Authors: Bethany Wilson, Sara S. McMillan and Amanda J. Wheeler

Need to improve availability of “access” group antibiotics and reduce the use of “watch” group antibiotics in India for optimum use of antibiotics to contain antimicrobial resistance

Authors: Sumanth Gandra and Anita Kotwani

Assessment of prescription pattern and prescription error in outpatient Department at Tertiary Care District Hospital, Central Nepal

The rational use of medicine improves patient’s quality of life. Excessive and inappropriate prescriptions result in severe consequences. The study of drug use patterns and prescription errors is necessary to ...

Authors: Rajeev Shrestha and Srijana Prajapati

Association between medicine Price declaration by pharmaceutical industries and retail prices in Malaysia’s private healthcare sector

As part of the initiatives to increase price transparency for consumers, pharmaceutical industry in Malaysia have been encouraged to declare the wholesale and recommended retail prices (RRP) of medicines to th...

Authors: Nur Sufiza Ahmad, Ernieda Hatah and Mohd Makmor-Bakry