Primary Care Pharmacy Services in Hong Kong - Medical-Social Collaboration Model

Abstract

Non-medical factors such as socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood, employment and social support networks influence individual’s health risks, access and outcomes. These social determinants of health also interact with medical conditions to impact medication adherence and subsequently risks for drug-related problems. By collaborating with social service providers in delivering pharmacy services, pharmacists leverage the community network and resources to efficiently engage the community, and to better address social determinants of medication-related issues. Medical social collaboration contributes to more patient-centered care and empowerment of the community to enhance medication access and safety. The Primary Care Pharmacy Consortium was established as a platform to promote transdisciplinary knowledge transfer and exchange between the academia, social service and healthcare providers in developing primary care pharmacy service models. The Consortium channels the profession’s expertise, resources, and insights from research to support social service providers in establishing non-profitable community pharmacies, pioneering community-based medication management service models, and optimising medication use in residential care facilities.