NEED OF CLINICAL PHARMACIST FOR RATIONALIZATION OF PRESCRIPTION

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted in the Medical ward of Hayath Abad Medical Complex (HMC), Peshawar, Pakistan from 1^st June 2009 to 31^st December 2009. HMC is one of the teaching hospital in KPK, Pakistan, it consist of 800 beds. The data were collected through prescribed history form and questionnaire designed from the general medical ward. The results indicates that the hepatotoxic drug prescribed in hepatic impaired patients were 5.6% of the study and about 31% drugs were found with improper dose or the frequency of dose was not mentioned. About 12.56% drugs were prescribed without mentioning the duration of therapy while, untreated conditions were found about 15.70% of our study. In the present study 21.46% drug interactions was found. The prescription containing unnecessary drugs without any indication were 7.85%. All these mentioned irrationality were due to the lack of clinical pharmacist in the whole hospital. It is concluded that the presence or involvement of a competent and qualified clinical pharmacist is very essential for the rationalization of the prescription in any hospital or health institution.