Challenges to deliver therapies

Medical science and pharmaceutical technology have progressed in enormous leaps. The professions have access to knowledge of improved therapies that cover a large selection of diagnoses. This state of affairs is a successful result of the long and purposeful co-operation between science and technology, theory and practice. The therapies have changed but their delivery to the patient remains the same. During the recent international recession and the continuous cost containment programmes the question of availability has risen to the fore. Availability is a question of means. That is usually interpreted as equal to saving and cost cutting. At times of affluence it could mean allowance but that seems far in the past. Availability also concerns the physical distribution of the therapies such as pharmaceuticals. So far, advances in the science have not affected either the distribution or availability of pharmaceutical products. With the rise in patient awareness, pressure is rising to make full use of the research results. This is a natural, albeit unmet, demand and represents an opportunity for the pharmacy institutions with their well trained personnel, modern outlets and the unique as well as traditional position in direct contact with the patients. This role could gain added weight through the progress of the technologies that allow ambulatory therapies instead of cost consuming institutionalisation. It would appear quite natural that the providers of such services would seek the pharmacy outlet networks as their proper points of delivery. There is no doubt that this choice would be taken as a convenient solution by the consumers of the services. This would offer considerable savings to society and efficiency to the patients.