Date Approved

2016

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department or School

Health Sciences

Committee Member

Irwin Martin

Committee Member

Stephen Sonstein

Abstract

India is a developing nation and has progressive health care facilities. An important part of its health care system is the community pharmacy, where registered pharmacists provide pharmaceutical services to the public. Community pharmacy is the first place the public looks for drug-related information and medication counseling. The main objective of this study was to investigate the current status of pharmacies and the impact of the Pharm D program (professional pharmacy doctoral program) on the qualifications of pharmacists in India. This research specifically addressed the fate of community pharmacies after the implementation of this program. This research was conducted in the form of a cross-sectional survey in the Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh state, India. The sample included representative pharmacies in the district covering urban and rural areas. Earlier, the majority of pharmacies had non-pharmacists dispensing or counseling patients. Though Pharm D graduates were found to be dispensing medications in pharmacies, there was only minimal progress. It is recommended that the Government of India should make the Pharm D mandatory for a dispensing pharmacist to improve patient care.

Download

Share

COinS