Assessment of dispensing practice in Khartoum state teaching hospitals

Gamal Osman Elhassan; Idris Mohamed Idris Fadul; Abu Bakr Abd Alrouf; Khalid Omer Alfarouk; Adil H. H. Bashir; Jiyauddin Khan; Md Jamir Anwar; Mai Abd Allah Humedia

Authors

Gamal Osman Elhassan Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim, KSA
Idris Mohamed Idris Fadul Pharmaceutical Services Fellowship, Sudanese Medical Specialization Board, Khartoum, Sudan
Abu Bakr Abd Alrouf Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim, KSA
Khalid Omer Alfarouk Alfarouk Biomedical Research LLC, Florida, USA
Adil H. H. Bashir Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
Jiyauddin Khan School of Pharmacy, Management and Science University, Selangor-Malaysia
Md Jamir Anwar Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim, KSA
Mai Abd Allah Humedia General Directorate of Pharmacy, Federal MOH, Khartoum, Sudan

Keywords:

Dispensing, Pharmacy, Sudan, Teaching Hospital, Pharmaceutical Care

Abstract

A pharmacist must take reasonable steps to ensure that the dispensing of a medicine in accordance with a prescription or order is consistent with the safety of the patients in that prescription or order. This study aimed to characterize and evaluate the dispensing practices by pharmacists and pharmacy assistants in a sample of pharmacies in three teaching hospitals in Sudan. The study was conducted in 9 pharmacies in the participating hospitals; Khartoum Teaching Hospital, Omdurman Teaching Hospital, and Bahri Teaching Hospital. Checklist for evaluating the dispensing personnel was made within the framework of the standard indicators of the International Pharmaceutical Federation and the pharmacy board of Australia. Out of the nine observed pharmacies, only three have their pharmacy practice assessed by hospital pharmacy committees. Also, only four pharmacies (44.4%) maintaining their job description, while one pharmacy has no job description at all. The overall observed good dispensing practice at the participating hospital pharmacies is low. There is a need to train pharmacists to offer more appropriate dispensing to patients and have better-dispensing practice skills.