Pharmacy workforce to prevent and manage non-communicable diseases in developing nations: The case of Nepal.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs, e.g. cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus) are the main causes of mortality and morbidity in developing countries, including Nepal. Nearly half of the deaths in Nepal are caused by NCDs. Nepal lacks adequate human resources to prevent and manage NCDs, but the skills and expertise of pharmacists in Nepal are underused. There is evidence from many countries that pharmacists can contribute substantially to the prevention and management NCD. We aim to describe the opportunities and challenges for pharmacists to prevent and manage NCDs in Nepal. Pharmacists can contribute by screening and monitoring NCDs; counseling on lifestyle; providing medication therapy management services; promoting public health; and providing other pharmaceutical services. Challenges to the implementation of some of these activities in the current context include inadequate training of pharmacists in NCD prevention and management, the cost of pharmaceutical services to patients and government, and the existing health care service delivery model. There is a need for health services research to determine how pharmacists can be best used to prevent and manage NCDs in Nepal.
School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Australia; Sankalpa Foundation, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal. Electronic address: khanalsaval@gmail.com.
Saval
S
Khanal
School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
Lisa
L
Nissen
School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Australia.
Lennert
L
Veerman
School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Australia.
Samantha
S
Hollingworth
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003906:Developing Countries; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D054539:Medication Therapy Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D009390:Nepal; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D011634:Public Health
Nepal; Non-communicable diseases; Role of pharmacists