Patient safety and pharmacovigilance: the role of Community pharmacists Flora Giorgio-Gerlach Secretary General PGEU
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005 Contents PGEU introduction Patient safety and pharmaceuticals The role of pharmacists in enhancing safety Pharmacovigilance Conclusions
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005
PGEU Introduction - objectives Facilitate exchange of information between pharmacy associations on the regulatory framework and pharmacy practice To promote at European level the role of the pharmacist as a key player in healthcare PGEU Mission Statement
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005 Patient safety and pharmaceuticals National Patient Safety Alliances HLG – Patient Safety WG EU Presidency LUX Declaration – April 2005 European Health Forum Gastein EU Presidency UK Summit – November 2005
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005 Patient safety and pharmaceuticals EU Presidency LUX Declaration – April 2005 PS in primary settings Pharmaceuticals Regulatory Framework Pharmacovigilance Correct use of medicines EU Open Forum Workshop 2; 7-8 November 2005
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005 Pharmacovigilance today 5-10% of patients have ADRs (Moore et coll. 1998) ADRs 4 th cause of death in USA (Lazarou et coll. JAMA, 1994) billion dollars/year due to ADRs (Such et coll. Ann. Pharm.2000) Does it work ? Better “use of pharmacists” !
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005 Pharmacist's contribution I Training “Expert in medicinal products” EU Directive 2005/37/EC Why Pharmacists? Professional role Dispensing link with patient link with authorities/prescribers Trusted Readers Digest 2005 “Most trusted professional services”
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005 Pharmacists’ contribution II Easy accessible – 1 pharmacy/3400 inhab. (PGEU Database 2004; EU Average) Why Pharmacists ?
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005 Pharmacists’ contribution III Why Pharmacists ? Highly IT literate
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005 Pharmacists’ contribution IV Pharmacists reporting reflects patients concerns Pharmacists reporting is of high quality (van Grootheest et al. Pharm World sci ; 2004: 26; ) But …. Why Pharmacists ?
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005 Pharmacists’ contribution V Regulatory issues uncertainty … reporting by pharmacists is low Responsibility/role conflicts with medical profession Training too little focus on “practice”
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005 Pharmacists’ contribution … reporting by pharmacists is low ADD CHART
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005 Pharmacists’ contribution VI Address Regulatory Issues national/EU Pharmacists in ADRs schemes Enhance Practice Raise awareness + IT support tools strengthen communication with patients using CPD Promote collaborative care approach Promote “practice-oriented” training The objective of the profession
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005 Conclusions Pharmacist role is evolving from “product-focus” to “patient-focus” People should continue to trust medicines Pharmacists can help! New role a great asset to: Enhance pharmacovigilance Ensure effective medicines management, including enhance concordance
European Health Forum Gastein 6 th October 2005 Thank you Flora Giorgio-Gerlach PGEU