PHARMACY PRACTICE IN VIEW OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN JIMMA UNIVERSITY SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL

Background: Pharmacists are drug therapy experts and primary health professionals who optimize medication management to produce positive health outcomes. Clearly there are still misconception and confusion among the public on the function of pharmacists. Sometimes even the pharmacy personnel themselves seemed to be unaware of the importance of their profession.

Objective: The study tried to assess the attitude of health professionals about the role of pharmacists as a professional.

Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out in Jimma University Specialized hospital on the role of pharmacists within the health sector and in industrial works. A structured pretested questionnaire was distributed to 140 health professionals.

Result: 129 questionnaires were returned in a usable form, an overall response rate was 71.67%. Some health professionals (22.66%) still think that pharmacist’s job is only dispensing. In addition, treating minor illness by pharmacists had getting agreement only from 27.91% of health professionals. Especially this practice have strong disagreement from physicians (77.4%). Almost half of the respondents (48.84%) do not have very good communication with pharmacists. On the other hand 28.68% health professionals prefer if all doctors, nurses and health assistants allowed dispensing medication. The reason for variable attitudes is also referred by 80.6% physicians and 63.8% nurse’s that pharmacists in Ethiopia are not effectively practicing their professional work.

Conclusion: The roles of pharmacists in the health sector are not well known or misunderstood by other health professionals. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that pharmacists themselves have the responsibility to narrow the observed gaps by enrolling into the health system and establishing pharmacy and therapeutic committee.