Bashir Irfan, Ahmad Mahmood, Jamshaid Muhammad, Zaman Muhammad
Faculty of Pharmacy & Alternative Medicine, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Heliyon. 2021 May 20;7(5):e07031. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07031. eCollection 2021 May.
Sale of controlled drugs without prescription is a burning issue in developing countries like Pakistan. Illicit sale practices lead towards drug abuse and misuse among youngsters and negatively impact the health of youth and economy of any country. Present study aims to highlight the illicit sale practices at community pharmacies/drug stores of Punjab, Pakistan. Study was conducted at community pharmacies/drug stores (n = 200) of Punjab, Pakistan. Sales men at pharmacies/drugs stores were interviewed and then their statements were cross verified by sending fake customers at their community pharmacies to check the extent of illicit sale practices by them. Gathered data was analyzed using SPPS-22. Out of 200 pharmacies, pharmacists were physically present at 5% of pharmacies (n = 200), rest of the 95% pharmacies (n = 190) were being run by non-qualified persons and were found to be engaged in illicit sale practices. Controlled drugs were being provided to customers without prescription, which is a dilemma and need to be addressed for effective policy making. Physical presence of pharmacists at community pharmacies/drug stores is necessary to overcome the illicit sale practices. Effective policy must be developed and implemented by Governmental Authorities to prevent the youth from hazards associated with drug abuse and misuse.
在巴基斯坦等发展中国家,无处方销售管制药品是一个亟待解决的问题。非法销售行为导致青少年药物滥用,对青少年健康和任何国家的经济都产生负面影响。本研究旨在突出巴基斯坦旁遮普邦社区药店/药房的非法销售行为。研究在巴基斯坦旁遮普邦的社区药店/药房(n = 200)进行。对药店/药房的销售人员进行了访谈,然后通过向其社区药店派遣假顾客来核实他们的陈述,以检查其非法销售行为的程度。使用SPPS - 22对收集到的数据进行分析。在200家药店中,药剂师实际在岗的药店占5%(n = 10),其余95%的药店(n = 190)由无资质人员经营,且被发现存在非法销售行为。管制药品在无处方的情况下就提供给顾客,这是一个困境,需要加以解决以便制定有效的政策。药剂师在社区药店/药房实际在岗对于杜绝非法销售行为是必要的。政府当局必须制定并实施有效的政策,以保护青少年免受药物滥用相关危害。