TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The government should create a department of pharmacy in the Public Health Department under the Directorate of Health Services, to oversee all aspects of pharmacy-related activities, a submission made before the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar recommends.
The report also wants a PTC, given the multiplicity of medicines available and the complexities surrounding their safe and effective use. Similar committees are mandatory in other states but are not present in Goa.
The report which cites vast irregularities in the prescribing, purchase and use of medicines, seeks that in order to streamline the procurement of medicines and their use in government establishments there should also be a Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (PTC) at hospitals to have an organized, sound programme for maximizing rational use of medicines.
The report suggests that the department should be headed by a Deputy Director (Pharmacy), and should have chief pharmacist, assistant chief pharmacist, senior pharmacist and pharmacist.
“While it may seem to be an additional burden on the exchequer to hire additional/sufficient number of pharmacists, this will be compensated by streamlining the pharmacy services, computerization, reduced wastage of medicines, reduced costs on medicines, and benefits to patients,” the report reads.
“Besides, pharmacists can be involved in other health programmes, and given responsibilities, thus reducing the burden of the doctors and freeing them for clinical work,” the report adds.
The Goa Medical College and the Directorate of Health Services together spend nearly Rs 70 crore on the purchase of medicines each year making the government the single biggest buyer of medicines. However quality, storage and others issues continue to dog the government that is yet to get its act together.
The report also recommended that there should be a PTC given the multiplicity of medicines available and the complexities surrounding their safe and effective use.
The PTC is an advisory group from the health team and serves as the organizational line of communication between the medical staff and pharmacy department. This committee should comprise physicians, pharmacists, and other health professionals selected with the guidance of the medical staff. It is a policy recommending body to the medical staff and the administration of the hospital on matters.
The government has already implemented one of the suggestions of the report ~ that of a common pool for purchases of medicines for GMC and DHS. The larger purchase quantities will ensure centralization of services, reduce manpower, help better price negotiation and reduce costs.
