Envisioned Role of the Pharmacy Channel in Curbing Falsified and Substandard Medicines in Africa.

To effectively combat the menace of substandard and falsified medicines, the pharmacy channel must be empowered and actively involved in the fight. Some interventions that can be adopted to deliver on this imperative include:

1. Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks: The pharmaceutical industry should advocate for stronger regulations that support pharmacists in identifying and reporting SF medicines, ensuring that they have the tools needed to safeguard patient health. Additionally, specific roles aligned to regulatory affairs, quality assurance and supply chain management in healthcare ought to be well integrated with Pharmacy practice by regulations. Consider the case of Kenya and Uganda, where Qualified Persons for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) are required to be trained and registered pharmacists by their NRA. By advocating for policies that promote public safety and pharmacy practice across healthcare systems, regulatory frameworks are critical in curbing production and distribution of substandard products. This also includes advocating for policies that mandate regular inspections and quality assurance checks in laboratories and manufacturing and distribution sites.

2. Enhanced Training and Education: Provide pharmacists with ongoing training focused on quality assurance and identification of SF medicines, as well as public health education to raise awareness among patients. Pharmacists have the advantage of knowledge in pharmacy practice and being in first contact with patients making it easier for them to educate the public even during community-based awareness campaigns by clearly disseminating truths and facts about SF medicines and their implication. With proper training and education in supply chain, quality assurance and control, Pharmacists will not only sharpen their capacity to execute task relating to curbing SF medicines but also have the edge of educating others. Workshops and certification programs are also effective in keeping pharmacists informed about emerging trends in pharmaceutical supply chain management and threats in the realms of counterfeiting.

3. Public Awareness Campaigns: Pharmacist as healthcare providers have the mandate to champion for public awareness on matters healthcare. Pharmaceutical associations and other umbrella bodies should periodically and continuously launch community outreach initiatives led by pharmacists to educate the public about the dangers of SF medicines and the importance of sourcing medications from reputable suppliers. Regarding credibility and reliability, pharmacists often recommend patients to trusted pharmacies where they can obtain quality medicines. It is in the best interest of healthcare providers including Pharmacist to retain or restore public confidence in pharmacy practice since our clients are usually our patients. ?In addition to this, public awareness campaigns on SF medicines will promote trust in the healthcare system, promote legitimate business and improve stakeholder relationships in the practice. Such public awareness campaigns can include distributing informational pamphlets, social media outreach, and community seminars.

4. Collaboration with Regulatory Bodies: Establishing partnerships between pharmacists and national regulatory authorities will go a long way to facilitate better monitoring and reporting of suspicious products. A collaborative approach can streamline processes and enhance the effectiveness of regulators and pharmacists which will in the long run positively impact public health safety. Consider Market Authorization Holders (MAHs)who are usually required to keep clear communication channels with regulatory authorities to ensure both parties are up to date regarding their products and cases regarding product integrity and safety after registration. Data sharing among both parties must always be in confidence and voluntary unless mandatory by laws and regulations. This will also help reduce reputational risk where fraudsters may counterfeit legitimate brands.

5. Use of Technology: In an era of advanced technology and digitization, implementing technological solutions, such as mobile applications or online platforms, enable pharmacists and consumers to verify the authenticity of medicines quickly. Digital tools can provide real-time updates on drug recalls and alerts about known substandard and falsified health products. This can include scanners for unique anti-counterfeiting attributes in medicines.

6. Promoting Ethical Practices: In the line of pharmacy practice, integrity is key due to high risks of patient harm from medicines and health technologies. Therefore, upholding high ethical practices cannot be overstated. We strongly encourage ethical practices among pharmacists and suppliers to build trust within communities and reduce reliance on unregulated sources. A code of ethics can guide pharmacists in their practice and interactions with suppliers.

7. Adoption of an End-to-End Pharmaceutical Supply Chain System[1]: Threats like counterfeits can quickly disrupt the supply chain and cause major problems if there aren't reliable systems in place and strong stakeholder participation. Supply chain resilience can be increased by implementing better working practices, which can be accomplished by actively incorporating all parties involved in the supply chain, including manufacturers, distributors, medical professionals, and patients. Secondly, through the use of blockchain technology to improve product end-to-end traceability.

8. Heightened Control & Regulation of Pharmacy Outlets: this can be through community-pharmacy led initiatives to weed out quacks “Nyumba Kumi Initiative” model while also ensuring that the practice of pharmacy is professionalized with unqualified professionals excluded from running pharmacies.

Conclusion

The fight against substandard and falsified medicines is critical for the health and safety of populations across Africa. Pharmacy practice plays a pivotal role in curbing this menace. By equipping pharmacists with the necessary training, resources, and support, we can empower them to be frontline defenders against SF medicines. Through education, collaboration, and the promotion of ethical practices, pharmacists can help restore trust in healthcare systems and ensure that patients receive quality, safe and effective medicines that they deserve.

As we work towards a healthier Africa, strengthening the pharmacy channel will be vital in combating the threat of SF medicines, ultimately safeguarding public health and improving health outcomes for all. In summary, the active involvement of pharmacists, supported by robust regulatory frameworks and community engagement, can create a formidable front against the challenges posed by substandard and falsified medicines. Through concerted efforts, we can significantly reduce the prevalence of substandard and falsified health products, protect patient safety, and contribute to the overall goal of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) in Africa.

[1] Why we need an integrated ‘end-to-end’ Pharmaceutical Supply Chain: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/why-we-need-integrated-end-to-end-pharmaceutical-supply-david/