The Indian American Pharmacist (IAP), a non-profit organisation, now sees the need for India to gear up in the area of clinical pharmacy to support patient care. In this regard, it has developed a single page digital medication record (DMR) that includes patient-family history, current laboratory results, diagnosis and the treatment plan which is far easy-to-view, print, what's app or email in contrast to an electronic medical record which runs into pages.

To maximise the advantages of DMR, IAP is now working to impart free training to Pharm D candidates across India by early February before it is released for commercial use.

It is high time India advances in clinical pharmacy on similar lines that of the US. Our country is already recognized as the pharmacy of the world. What happened in the last 60 years in clinical pharmacy in US, should happen in India in the next six years. This is our objective. IAP will assist every hospital that is willing to set up clinical pharmacy department. While a doctor manages the patient, the clinical pharmacist will monitor medications. It is an open invitation to ensure the highest level of patient care in India. Therefore, we view that India with its pool of Pharm D candidates needs replicate the US model and speed-up its efforts in clinical pharmacy, Basavaraj Banapur, president, IAP and a US-based registered pharmacy consultant, told Pharmabiz in an email.

There are around 1,500 multi-specialty hospitals in India and none of these have clinical pharmacy departments. Unlike the US where every hospital has a clinical pharmacy unit. There is a dedicated team of clinical pharmacists who are engaged in closely monitoring patients at the hospitals for drug interaction, drug-disease interaction, verify patient’s lab reports, adjust medication dosage, counsel patients, supervise their discharge among other functions. Now India needs to go a long way in clinical pharmacy activity at its hospitals and IAP is trying its best to shorten the effort with DMR, he added.

In the US, DMR is made available 24/7 to any healthcare professional authorized by the patient. As licensed pharmacy practitioners in US, IAP comprehends the basic needs of a Pharma D graduates and attempting to reach the students directly.

“IAP is looking to train Pharm D candidates. It is willing to provide all that is needed to improve the pharmaceutical care by sharing our knowledge, experience and resources. Once the Pharm D candidates are adept with DMR, IAP after a few months will contact the hospital administrator to start the Clinical Pharmacy Services.

“We want to make sure that the students are properly trained to face the future challenges of Indian healthcare. Now in the US, the profession of a pharmacist is valued and relied upon. In 2014, US has recognized pharmacists as a healthcare providers and in some states they even prescribe medications and inoculate vaccines. We need to ensure that India’s Pharm D candidates chip in their expertise on similar lines,” said Banapur.