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Role of Pharmacist
in
Malaria Control
15th Roll Back Malaria Partnership Board Meeting
New Delhi
Mrs Manjiri S Gharat
Hon. Secretary, Community Pharmacy Division,
Indian Pharmaceutical Association
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Role of Pharmacist: African Experience
Malaria Fact Card Project (Year 2001-2004)
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Project
of
Commonwealth
Pharmaceutical Association (CPA),
International
Pharmaceutical
Federation (FIP) & World Health
Organisation (WHO)
Aimed to disseminate reliable and
relevant consumer information
through community pharmacies on
the prevention and early treatment
of malaria in various malariaendemic
regionsZimbabwe
,Tanzania & Ghana
Pharmacists were provided with the
training and resources to develop,
produce and implement
intervention strategies
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Malaria Fact Card Project (Year 2001-2004)
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Malaria Fact Card-Consumer
Education tool - easy to
understand ,in local language
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Focused on prevention, treatment
& complied with Malaria Control
Strategies in each country
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Training of pharmacists in use of
Fact Card as Counseling tool
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Focused Group discussion for
evaluation of project
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Project Outcome
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Fact Card had increased awareness of the prevention and early
treatment of malaria in more than 60% of survey respondents in the
target groups
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Increased pharmacist/patient interaction not only informed patients but
also promoted the potential for real change in consumer behaviour
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Project was successful in achieving its objectives
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Typical Indian Retail Pharmacy
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
TB Fact Card Project
Pharmacists participating in Tuberculosis (TB) Control
Objectives:
To involve community
pharmacists in:
• Promoting community
awareness of TB
• Monitoring TB treatment
prescribed by private
physicians
• Providing patient support
Implemented through 50 trained community pharmacists in
Mumbai & Navi Mumbai
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Special Achievements
Improvement in
trader image
Pharmacists’
commitment
TB Fact Card
Project
Rise of Concept of
DOTS
Pharmacist
Successful
Collaborations
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
DOTS Provider pharmacist with TB patient
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Positive experiences of TB Fact Card project in Indian Settings
& Malaria Fact Card in African settings suggest:
Pharmacist has potential in participation of various health
programmes of Governments
It has been (pharmacist services) mostly untapped potential
till date
Pharmacists can add to trained workforce & with their
involvement there could be wider outreach of malaria control
programme
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Advantages of using Community Pharmacy
Services
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Pharmacist-first port of call health
professional
Easy accessibility of pharmacies
Pharmacist skills in communication
Friendly relation with consumers
Knowledge about medicines
Better patient care & support
Provision of free advice
500,000 (half a million ) community pharmacies in the
country
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Malaria Control: Issues to be addressed
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Shortage of trained manpower
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Drug use problems at community level
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Insufficient awareness in the community leading to high morbidity &
mortality in certain States
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Observations by pharmacists
Informal discussion with experienced community pharmacists brought up
following points
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Incorrect use of medicines by patients (incomplete treatment, wrong
timings of dosages ,fear of side effects etc)
– Suggests-Scope to improve the situation-Role of pharmacist
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Low level of awareness & concern about vector control, especially in
rural areas
– Suggests-Scope to improve the situation-Role of pharmacist
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Variations in treatment seen in prescriptions (deviations from standard
guidelines?)
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Envisioned Role of pharmacist
Early Case Detection and Prompt Referral for Treatment
• Identifying symptomatic cases & directing suspected cases for medical
check up
• Referring to diagnostic centers, Drug Distribution Centers (DDCs) and
Fever Treatment Depots (FTDs) in the rural areas
Counseling:
• Community awareness about causes, preventive measures ,symptoms,
diagnosis (emphasis on importance of blood smear examination),
treatment
• Rational use of prescribed medicines
• Counseling to improve Community Participation by sensitizing and
involving the community for detection of Anopheles breeding places
and their elimination
• Sensitizing consumers for various ways of vector control emphasizing
personal prophylactic measures
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Envisioned Role of pharmacist contd
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Presumptive treatment in high transmission areas?
Pharmacovigilance –reporting of ADRs
Participation in Evaluation of prescriptions/Prescription audits
Counseling for Travelers malaria
World Malaria Day –IEC campaigns
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Way ahead… Pharmacist centric model for Malaria
control
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Consumer health information & other IEC material on malaria in
compliance with National malaria control policies ,for distribution/display
through pharmacies
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Disseminate the information about planned project to pharmacists
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Selection of willing pharmacists
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Training of pharmacists about disease & use of Information tools
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Follow up & monitoring of the activities
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Evaluation
Pilot project in one District of any high disease burden State & then nation wide
implementation after refining the model
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Possible collaborations-Public-Private Mix activity
Collaborating organizations at national, regional & local level
• National Pharmaceutical Association (Indian Pharmaceutical
Association)
• Chemist Associations
• Government Vector Borne Disease Control Department
• WHO ??
Challenges :
• Capacity building for training of pharmacists
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Funding support (sustainability …)
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
To summarise:
Counseling
Community
awareness
Case
detection &
referral
With appropriate training & supervision, community pharmacists
can complement and supplement the government efforts
to make a significant dent in the malaria burden
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08
Acknowledgements
• CPA Secretariat,London
• Prafull D Sheth,Vice-President ,FIP
Role of Pharmacist in Malaria Control,10th November,08