A SURVEY OF PATIENT-ORIENTATED SERVICES IN COMMUNITY PHARMACY PRACTICE IN MALAYSIA

This survey explored patient-orientated services, beyond processing of prescriptions and dispensing of medications, provided by the Malaysian community pharmacist. The results revealed a trend towards the provision of such activities. Although this was not widely implemented by the pharmacists, activities such as patient counselling and providing drug information were part of their daily practice. Lack of time, large workload, and inadequate drug information sources were the constraints cited by the pharmacists for the provision of such activities. If willingness and abilities to perform such activities were the significant barriers, then educational programmes should be initiated to provide the missing competencies.