Mintage Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Sciences (ISSN: 2320-3315)

Author(s): DR.SAFILA NAVEED, ISHIMA NAIYARAIN ZAFAR, MARYAM MUSHARRAF, SAMIA YAQOOB, SOBIA ZAMAN, SYEDA ZEHRA JABEEN NAQVI AND TANIA QUDSIA

Objective:  Tostudy  the  pharmacy  dispensing  practice  carried  out  in  various  pharmacies  of  Karachi  focusing  on  the  availability  of  a  pharmacist  in  the  pharmacy  and  their responsibility as pharmacy dispensers.Method:  Asurvey  based  study  was  conducted  in  which  40  pharmacies  in  various  areas  of  Karachi  including  North  Karachi,  Nazimabad,  Shahra-e-Faisal and  Steel  Town, were assessed with the help of closed-ended questionnaires.Key Findings:Out of the 40 pharmacies surveyed only 12 were found to have pharmacists working in the pharmacy, 27 counsel their customers about the medication, 14 of them do support the idea of dispensing drugs without prescription, and 29 of the dispensers in these pharmacies think that people are now becoming more aware about their medication.  Of the 27 pharmacies  that  counsel their  customers,  only  7  provide  information  regarding adverse  effects  of  the  drug, 16 provide information about  storage,  20 about how and when to use the drug, only 3 about precautions and 18 pharmacies where medical devices are available guide about how to use the medical devices. Conclusion: Forgood dispensing practice in a pharmacy, availability of a pharmacist in the pharmacy is a necessity. And to improve the quality of life of the patient effective and informative counseling is important. Pharmacies in Karachi lack these important factors and, therefore, there is an intensive need of improvements to be made in this field which can onlybe achieved by strict inspection of pharmacies and educating the pharmacists and dispensers regarding good dispensing practices