Role of pharmacists towards well-being, safety of all

Special Correspondent

There was a packed hall of leading pharmacists at the Galadari Hotel in Colombo last Saturday.

Here, the disability activist and accessibility advisor Dr Ajith C S Perera emphasised that health is no more considered a mere ‘disease prevention’ nor just a state, but a collection of physical, social, mental and emotional well-being encompassing many areas of life.

He then elucidated that pharmacists are often the first point-of-contact for people concerning their well-being and overall health and today the pharmacist should play actively the role as an integrated member of the team directly responsible here.

Safe access

Dr Perera, Chief Executive of ‘IDIRIYA’ voluntary organization, was a distinguished speaker at a one-day workshop organized by the Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka (PPSL) jointly with the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association based in London under the theme: ‘Supporting role of pharmacists towards an enabling society’.

Perera further revealed that although safe access to public facilities is an inherent human right, a wide range of people - estimated to be not less than 25 percent of Sri Lanka’s population, i.e. five million citizens for different reasons experience restrictions in their ability - mobility, hearing and sight in particular, - are hindered and has to fight daily against discrimination, restrictions and safety hazards in using even new public buildings - pharmacies constructed without foresight at private sector hospitals in particular whose main aim seems to be raking money from patients than any real service and safety to them.

Perera said: “it is inevitable that all of us will spend some of our time living with reduced ability to move, hear and even grasp information, especially as we age”.

He further explained: “It is often the design of our living environments and facilities, which includes the pharmacies at mushrooming supermarkets and private sector hospitals, together with the attitudes of their owners and decision makers, which creates and magnifies disadvantaged states and safety hazards, especially to senior citizens, pregnant mothers, those convalescing and those with less apparent numerous debilitating medical conditions”.

Potential customers

Perera stressed that the country could no longer continue to waste precious limited resources - money, effort and time - constructing buildings and facilities essential for use by people in their day-to-day life, especially pharmacies, that disregard the ‘Good Design Practices’ that incorporate standards and design specifications for all parts of buildings. Moreover, doing so means disobeying the laws and violating the regulations.

Although safe access to public facilities is an inherent human right, an estimated 25 percent of our population - five million citizens with curtailed mobility - are hindered and has to fight daily against discrimination, restrictions and safety hazards in using even new public buildings and are thereby even denied gainful opportunities.

As such, the enabling design of the physical environment and facilities at pharmacies, the time and care pharmacists should give especially to the potential customers with restricted physical and sensory abilities, become paramount now, more than ever before.

“Owners of pharmacies - and pharmacist in particular - are expected to adhere to these professional standards given that they act as an integrated member of the team directly involved in the care and advice of people concerning their overall health and well-being”, Dr Perera said.

Better quality of life

Roger Odd, Secretary Commonwealth Pharmacists Association stressed the need to act now and act fast and emphasised the need to design and construct public places, such as community as well as hospital pharmacies, in accordance with standards, specifications and laws in force, for safety, better health and better quality of life for all.

The post-lunch two hour period was a brainstorming session with all participants divided into three groups. A series of very useful proposals in the larger interest of the community emerged from their very active participation.

Noteworthy inputs were made here to the greater success of the final outcome of this timely programme by the former President PPSL Professor Tuley de Silva, its current President Chintha Abayawardana, Dr Chamarie Weeraratne, Shalutha Athauda, C S Edwards, Mervyn Burrows, Cyril Siriwardena, Dr Ajith C S Perera, Roger Odd and Betty Falconbridge - Administration Officer CPA.

Based on feedback information received, Roger Odd shall compile and forward PPSL a ‘Plan for RAPID action’.

It was agreed unanimously that it should be the moral duty, social responsibility and in view of a recent Supreme Court Order SCFR 221/2009 given on April 27, 2011 (achieved through the endeavours and foresight of Dr Ajith C S Perera), legal obligation of all pharmacists and, PPSL in particular, to play an active role towards their implementation in the larger national interest.