Browsing by Author "Kalungia, Aubrey C"

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    Covid-19, healthcare and self-medication issues in resource limited-settings :
    (Busitema University, 2021) Sefah, Israel Abebrese; Essah, Darius Obeng; Haque, Mainul; Opanga, Sylvia A; Kumar, Santosh; Chikowe, Ibrahim; Kibuule, Dan; Rampamba, Enos M; Kalungia, Aubrey C; Thi Phuong, Thuy Nguyen; Saleem, Zikria; Markovic‑Pekovic, Vanda; Kurdi, Amanj; Godman, Brian
    Introduction and objectives: There have been concerns with the level of misinformation regarding COVID-19 and its treatment, drug shortages, as well as increased use and prices of antimalarials, antibiotics and hygiene products during the recent pandemic. Community pharmacists can play a significant role in disease prevention and treatment in the fight against COVID-19 including providing hygiene information and medicine availability across Africa and generally. Consequently, there is a need to review the role of community pharmacists in preventing unintended consequences during any pandemic as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the demand, availability and prices of suggested medicines for its management. Method: Multiple approach involving a qualitative review of the management of COVID-19 across countries coupled with a pilot study in Ghana among six purposely selected community pharmacists during the early stages of the pandemic assessing patterns of demand, availability and prices of medicines suggested for the management of COVID-19. Alongside this, pharmacists’ future role enhancing appropriate medicine use in Ghana and wider combined with the help of senior level co-authors. Results: The majority (five out of six) of pharmacists in Ghana reported increased demand for hydroxychloroquine, antibiotics and vitamins as immune boosters resulting in shortages with price increases particularly for antimalarials. Conclusion: The global lockdown had impacted on the supply and prices of medicines in Ghana similar to other countries. Community pharmacists can play a key role with encouraging safe medicine use, reducing self-purchasing of medicines and planning workflows during future pandemics including vaccinations. They can also help address potential misinformation and its consequences as well as the unintended consequences of pandemics including better management of non-communicable diseases. Keywords: Community pharmacists, COVID-19, Ghana, misinformation, self-medication, supply chain
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    Evidence-based public policy making formedicines across countries: findings andimplications for the future
    (Future Medicine Ltd, 2021) Godman, Brian; Fadare, Joseph; Kwon, Hye-Young; Zampirolli Dias, Carolina; Kurdi, Amanj; Dias God ́oi, Isabella Piassi; Kibuule, Dan; Hoxha, Iris; Opanga, Sylvia; Saleem, Zikria; Bochenek, Tomasz; Markovi ́c-Pekovi ́c, Vanda; Mardare, Ileana; Kalungia, Aubrey C; Campbel, Stephen; Allocati, Eleonora; Pisana, Alice; Martin, Antony P; Meyer, Johanna C
    im:Global expenditure on medicines is rising up to 6% per year driven by increasing prevalence ofnon-communicable diseases (NCDs) and new premium priced medicines for cancer, orphan diseases andother complex areas. This is difficult to sustain without reforms.Methods:Extensive narrative review ofpublished papers and contextualizing the findings to provide future guidance.Results:New models arebeing introduced to improve the managed entry of new medicines including managed entry agreements,fair pricing approaches and monitoring prescribing against agreed guidance. Multiple measures have alsosuccessfully been introduced to improve the prescribing of established medicines. This includes encour-aging greater prescribing of generics and biosimilars versus originators and patented medicines in a classto conserve resources without compromising care. In addition, reducing inappropriate antibiotic utiliza-tion. Typically, multiple measures are the most effective.Conclusion:Multiple measures will be needed toattain and retain universal healthcare. Keywords:antimicrobials•biosimilars•COVID-19•demand-side measures•generics•guidelines•managedentry•oncology•orphan medicines•quality indicators•statins