Future vision and challenges for hospital pharmacy

Abstract

Demographic and epidemiologic transitions have imposed demands on health service provision, as have health sector reforms, the challenges of aging populations, disease profiles, the changing pharmaceutical landscape, and new care models created to respond to changing disease patterns. These developments have had an impact on the different sectors of pharmacy. Pharmacy has moved from the historical orientation of product-focused service to patient-centered approaches. In some countries, pharmacy has developed enhanced interprofessional relationships with other health care providers. Changes have occurred not only in service delivery but also in other spheres. Advancements in technology, scientific breakthroughs, and developments in the medical field have contributed significantly to patient care. Drug development in the scientific field has moved from innovative chemistry to molecular drug designs. Lately, the focus has been on predictive models, with genetics taking center stage. The practices of medicine and pharmacy have transformed from experimentation to evidence generation. The innovations that come with technological advances require adaptations of the health system and an enhancement of the pharmacist’s knowledge base. This has meant changes in approaches to service delivery across all levels of care, posing challenges to the primary-care and hospital-care roles of pharmacy. These challenges have required many countries to critically assess the size, skills, and competencies of the health work force. Responses have differed, based on health policies and resource availability of individual countries.

Future vision and challenges for hospital pharmacy

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Abstract

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