Principles of Good Pharmacy Practice

GPP Background

• 1986: WHO organized meetings in Delhi and Tokyo to discuss standard pharmacist practices.
• 1992: FIP developed GPP standards for community and hospital settings.
• 1994: WHA47.12 recognized pharmacists' role and supported WHO's plan for better drug use.
• 1994: GPP text submitted to WHO Expert Committee; incorporated in 1999 publication with FIP support.
• 1997 & 1998: WHO meetings in Vancouver and Netherlands highlighted the need to change pharmacy education and promote pharmacists in self-care.
• 1999: FIP/WHO joint document on GPP published.
• 2006: First edition of practical handbook launched in collaboration with WHO.
• Handbook designed to meet changing needs.

2011 WHO/FIP GPP Guidelines

• Joint guidelines on GPP published in WHO Technical Report Series, No. 961, 2011.
• Description to improve:
• Access to healthcare.
• Health promotion.
• Use of medicines.
• Barriers addressed:
• Poor access to quality medicinal products.
• Lack of access to trained healthcare professionals and care.
• Inadequate health workforce.
• Poor education standards.
• Unaffordable cost of care.
• Medicines are an integral part of global healthcare.
• Pharmacists play a vital role in medicine distribution, ensuring safe and effective use.

Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP)

• Policy by FIP and WHO as a guide for national pharmacy professional organizations.
• Guidelines used to set nationally accepted standards.
• Example: Philippine Pharmacy ACT (RA 10918) and Philippine Practice Standards for Pharmacists.
• Pharmacy practice responds to people's needs through evidence-based care.
• Backed by studies and prioritizes patient welfare.
• Ensures quality medication supply, promotes rational prescribing, and effective communication.

The Mission of Pharmacy Practice

• To contribute to health improvement and help patients make the best use of medicines.
• Components:
• Being readily available to patients with or without an appointment.
• Identifying and managing health-related problems.
• Health promotion (wellness, cessation).
• Assuring effectiveness of medicines.
• Preventing harm from medicines.
• Making responsible use of limited healthcare resources.

Requirements of GPP

• Pharmacist's first concern is the welfare of patients.
• Prioritize patient welfare over profit while ensuring business viability.
• Core activity: help patients make the best use of medicines.
• Supply of quality medication.
• Appropriate information and advice.
• Administration when required.
• Monitoring medication effects.
• Promote rational and economic prescribing and dispensing.

Prerequisites to Requirements

• Pharmacists should have input on use of medicines.
• Relationship with physicians should be collaborative, involving trust.
• Pharmacists should improve service, not compete.
• System needed for reporting adverse events, errors, product defects, counterfeit detection.
• Share responsibility for quality definition, evaluation, improvement.
• Be aware of patient information (diagnosis, labs, history).
• Access current information about therapeutics, medicines, hazards.
• Accept responsibility for maintaining competence (CPD units).

Necessary Frameworks for GPP Implementation

• Legal Framework:
• Defines who can practice pharmacy.
• Defines the scope of pharmacy practice (RA 10918).
• Ensures supply chain integrity and medicine quality.
• Workforce Framework:
• Ensures competence of pharmacy staff (CPD).
• Defines necessary personnel resources for GPP.
• Economic Framework:
• Provides resources and incentives for GPP activities.

Setting Standards for GPP

• National Pharmacy Professional Association:
• Sets quality management framework.
• Develops strategic plan for services.
• Standards must consider needs of users and healthcare system capacity.
• Pharmacy practice varies across nations and practice locations.
• Continual learning is important for pharmacists to keep up-to-date on new practices.

Roles of Pharmacists

• Four main expected roles:
• Prepare, obtain, secure, store, distribute, administer, dispense, and dispose of medical products.
  • Prepare extemporaneous preparations.
  • Obtain, store, and secure medicines.
  • Distribute medicines.
  • Administer medicines, vaccines.
  • Dispense medical products.
  • Dispose of medicines (proper disposal methods).
• Provide effective medication therapy management.
  • Assess patient health status and needs.
  • Manage patient medication therapy.
  • Monitor patient progress and outcome.
  • Provide information about medicines and health issues.
• Maintain and improve professional performance.
  • Plan and implement CPD strategies.
• Contribute to improve effectiveness of the healthcare system.
  • Disseminate evaluated information about medicines and self-care.
  • Engage in preventive care activities and services.

Medication Use Process

• Steps: Prescribing, Dispensing, Administering, Monitoring.
• All healthcare professionals responsible for patient outcomes.

Responsibilities of Pharmacists

• Collaborate with healthcare team.
• Educate prescribers and patients.
• Educate nurses on administration.
• Educate pharmacy teams.
• Storage conditions.
• Medication quality.
• Procurement and supply.
• Benefit of the patient and improve their health outcome