An evaluation for the pharmacy of Chinese medicine in a cross-strait four regions and the examination for the role of pharmacist of Chinese medicines in Hong Kong : a combined qualitative and quantitative study

Abstract

Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) is an international standard in the pharmacy but it is unusual for Chinese Medicine (CM) pharmaceutical care, especially in the pharmacy of Chinese Medicine (PCM). GPP is defined as the practice of pharmacy that provides optimal and evidence-based care for patients. The components of GPP indicators include the assessment of system, storage, services, dispensing and rational use in PCM that it aims to improve the standard of PCM. However, the core of GPP is patient-oriented which are executed by pharmacist of Chinese medicine (PTCM) by the provision of pharmaceutical services. But in Hong Kong, PTCM is not a legal professional within the CM sector. Establishment of PTCM would be the catalyst to boost the implementation of GPP. Thus, the roles and responsibilities of PTCM should be identified by the stakeholders within CM sector and the CM services users before the recognition of PTCM.

This study was divided into two parts. The first part was a cross-sectional survey study for cross-strait four regions including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. In order to find out the GPP compliance of PCM in those four target sites, the GPP assessment tools were adopted to calculate and interpret the survey results which are used for comparison of PCMs in those four regions. The second part was a combined qualitative and quantitative study to examine the roles of PTCM through the perspective of the stakeholders of the CM sector and CM service users. Applying the questionnaire and focus group interview, the position of PTCM was identified. Concurrently, the views and attitudes of the above target groups were also explored.

The overall compliance for those four target sites were Hong Kong (3.78), Guangzhou (3.49), Macao (3.29), Taichung city (3.17). Hong Kong obtained the highest GPP scores because the capabilities and the infrastructures of PCM is well equipped which are sustaining the high quality of pharmacy services. It was followed by Guangzhou due to those PCM was covered by the Good Supply Practice (GSP) in its regulatory system so as to be kept in a high standard. While in Macao and Taichung city, the decline of PCM has been concluded for their CM industry. Nevertheless, the improvement of PCM in those four target regions should be addressed while GPP setting of PCM is not compulsory implement in those regions. For the examination for the roles of PTCM, stakeholders of CM sector and CM services users all showed the positive attitudes either in the questionnaire or in the focus group interview and over 90% of respondents concurred with the importance of the establishment of PTCM. Moreover, they were strongly suppose the development of PTCM in a professional way through the compulsory legislation because they believed PTCM would be the key professional in the PCM who leads and manages the whole operation of PCM, and even executing GPP into PCM. Therefore, this study can serve as pilot study for relevant regulatory authorities to consider the further development of GPP and PTCM in Hong Kong.