S-1999-02-1999_OVE
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L’ASSOCIATION MEDICALE MONDlALE. INC ASOCIACION MEDICA MUNDIAL, INC
THE WOR,LD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
B.P.63 – 01212 FERNEY-VOLTAIRECedex, France
Centre Intemationa! de Bureaux – Invneuble A -Keynes-
13, chemin du Levant· 01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE, France
Telephone: (33) 4 50 40 75 75
Fax: (33) 4 50 40 59 37
October 1999
E-mail address: info 0 wma.net
Website : www.wma.net
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Original: English
WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION STATEMENT
ON THE
WORKING RELATIONSHIP BElWEEN
PHYSICIANS AND PHARMACISTS
IN MEDICINAL THERAPY
Adopted by the Slit World Medical Association General Assembly
AOOpteo oy 1Ot= ~lT~rJyh~.~lt~~C!f,>8~J.1~?9…._.._._ . .,
Tel Aviv, Israel, October 1999
A. INTRODUCTION
1. The goal ofmedicinal therapy is to improve patients’ health and quality of life. Optimal
medicinal therapy should be safe, effective, judiciously chosen and cost-effective. There
should be equity of access to medicinal care and an accurate and up-to-date information
base meeting the needs ofpatients and providers.
2. Physicians and pharmacists have complementary and supportive responsibilities in
achieving the goal of providing optimal medicinal therapy. This requires
communication, respect, trust and mutual recognition of each others professional
competence. When counseling patients, the physician may focus on the goal oftherapy,
the risks and benefits and side effects. The pharmacist on the other hand may focus on
correct usage, treatment adherence, dosage, precautions and storage information.
B. THE PHYSIOAN’S RESPONSmILITIES
(Only in relation to medicinal therapy, without reference to the physician’s full range of
responsibilities)
3. Diagnosing diseases on the basis ofthe physician’s education and specialized skills ‘and
in accepting the sole responsibility for the diagnosis.
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4. Assessing the need for medicinal therapy and prescribing the relevant medicines (in
consultation with patients, pharmacists and other health care professionals, when
appropriate).
5. Providing information to patients about diagnosis, indications and treatment goals, as
well as action, benefits, risks and potential side effects of medicinal therapy.
6. Monitoring and assessing response to medicinal therapy, progress toward therapeutic
goals, and when necessary, revising the therapeutic plan (where appropriate in
collaboration with pharmacists and other caregivers).
7. Providing and sharing information in relation to medicinal therapy with other health
care providers.
8. Maintaining adequate records for each patient according to the need for therapy and in
compliance with legislation (medical law). e
9. Maintaining a high level of knowledge about medicinal therapy through continuing
professional development.
10. Ensuring safe procurement and storage of medicines that the physician is required to
supply.
11. Reviewing prescnption orders to identify interactions, allergic reactions. contra-
it”’i,…ti”n~ Qn~ thPrQ.nPlltil” ~.llnlil”~ti”n~
11. KeVlewlng prescnpnon oruers 10 mennry interactions, anergic reactions, contra-
indications and therapeutic duplications.
12. Reporting adverse reactions to medicines to health authorities. when appropriate.
C. THE PHARMACIST’S RESPONSmillTIES
(Only in relation to medicinal therapy, without reference to the pharmacist’s full range
ofresponsibilities) tit
13. Ensuring safe procurement, adequate storage and dispensing of medicines (in keeping
with the relevant regulations).
14. Providing information to patients, which may include the name of the medicine, its
purpose, potential interactions and side effects as well as correct usage and storage.
15. Reviewing prescription orders to identify interactions, allergic reactions, contra-
indications and therapeutic duplications. ·Concerns should be discussed with the
prescriber (physician).
16. On request of the patient, discussing medicine-related problems or concerns with regard
to the prescribed medicines.
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17. Advising patients, when appropriate, on the selection and the use of non-prescription
medicines and the patient’s management of minor symptoms or ailments (accepting the
responsibility for such advice). Where self-medication is not appropriate, advising
patients to consult their physician for diagnosis and treatment.
18. Reporting adverse reactions to medicines to health authorities, when appropriate.
19. Providing and sharing general as well as specific medicine-related information and
advice with the public and heath care providers. .
20. Maintaining a high level of knowledge about medicinal therapy through continuing
professional development.
D. CONCLUSION
21. The patient will best.be served when pharmacists and physicians collaborate together,
recognizing each other’s roles, to ensure that ·medicines are used safely and
appropriately to achieve the best health outcome.
-‘L -‘L ….
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