Private Hospitals' Pharmacy Mandate Conflicts with Patient Choice, BPS Chairperson

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain Pharmacists Society's (BPS) chairperson, Rehab Al Noaimi, has voiced strong opposition to practices employed by some private hospitals and clinics that restrict patients' choice of pharmacy.

She stated to the Daily Tribune that these practices, which often involve withholding prescriptions unless patients use the hospital's own pharmacy, violate patients' rights.

Her statements come as several private hospitals and clinics in Bahrain are directing patients to their on-site pharmacies for medication, rather than issuing prescriptions.

Commenting on this, Al Noaimi stressed the need for stricter oversight to ensure compliance with laws protecting patient rights and choices, emphasising that selecting a pharmacy is a fundamental patient right. She highlighted the importance of adhering to regulations to prevent monopolies and ensure fair competition, ultimately improving the quality of patient care.

The healthcare sector, particularly pharmacy, has seen significant recent advancements, necessitating adaptation. Al Noaimi underscored the growing need for specialised pharmacists, including clinical pharmacists providing expert advice, oncology pharmacists specialising in cancer treatment, pharmacogenomics pharmacists tailoring treatments based on genetic factors, and economic pharmacists analysing cost-effectiveness of medications and healthcare services.

She also highlighted the importance of digital pharmacy, leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence and data analytics to optimise medication dispensing.

Al Noaimi also clarified the differences between innovative and generic drugs. Innovative drugs, she explained, are original medications developed through extensive research and clinical trials, protected by patents. Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient and concentration but are produced after the patent expires, offering a more affordable alternative without compromising efficacy.

Furthermore, Al Noaimi discussed recent amendments to the pharmacists' law aimed at improving sector regulation and efficiency. A key change involves removing restrictions on the number of pharmacies allowed, facilitating wider access to medications. The amendments also strengthen pharmacists' roles in providing advanced consulting services and integrating new specialisations.

Finally, Al Noaimi addressed the licensing of retired pharmacists. "The Supreme Council of Health, in collaboration with the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), has approved licensing retired pharmacists to participate in scientific conferences, provide training, and offer consulting services, leveraging their extensive experience to benefit the profession. This step will facilitate the transfer of valuable expertise and knowledge to younger pharmacists and contribute to the overall growth of the profession," she said.