Drug distribution: a philosophy

Hospital pharmacy has made significant progress in the last two decades by any of a number of program evaluation methods. However equally apparent are our current deficiencies in the level of service provided in our drug distribution systems in Canadian hospitals. It is apparent that we will not be allowed to abrogate our responsibility any longer in that it is becoming recognized in medical, nursing and administrative circles that compounding and dispensing functions are clearly in the realm of a pharmacist's responsibility and these issues must be addressed if we can truly claim to be part of a world class health care system. Hospital pharmacists must take the initiative in accepting responsibility for chemotherapy preparations, I.V. additives and compounding as well as the adoption of a unit dose drug distribution system as a positive means to reduce medication errors. The report of the Hospital for Sick Children Review Committee makes it equally clear that society has expectations of an institutional pharmacy service that are considerably beyond that which we are accustomed to providing. The recommendations relating to pharmacy provide adequate support to facilitate the establishment of a contemporary drug distribution system in Canadian hospitals. Similarly the C.S.H.P. Standards of Pharmacy Practice and the Canadian Council on Hospital Accreditation Guidelines for Pharmacy Service offer additional "ammunition" for us individually and collectively to change the face of hospital pharmacy practice. The profession must take stock of its responsibilities before society insists that someone else take over where pharmacists have failed.