Strengthening Hospital Pharmacy Practice in Nepal Through the Minimum Service Standards Checklist

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Pharmacy Practice
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Hospital pharmacy practice in Nepal has evolved alongside health service development.
• The Ministry of Health and Population developed Minimum Service Standards (MSS) to assess healthcare quality.
• MSS includes domains on governance, clinical services, and support services, with a specific checklist for hospital pharmacy practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the Minimum Service Standards (MSS) checklists and their impact on hospital pharmacy services in Nepal.
• To explore how the MSS checklist can strengthen hospital pharmacy practice in primary, secondary, and tertiary hospitals.
• To provide a foundation for future research on MSS-based hospital pharmacy practices.

Main Methods:

• A perspective review of the Minimum Service Standards (MSS) checklists was conducted.
• The implications of MSS checklists for hospital pharmacy services were discussed.
• The role of various hospital stakeholders in utilizing the MSS checklist was examined.

Main Results:

• The MSS checklist serves as a practical tool for assessing and improving hospital pharmacy practice.
• The checklist can guide hospital administration and pharmacy committees in developing action plans.
• Potential for 100% compliance and quality improvement through systematic application of the MSS checklist.

Conclusions:

• The MSS checklist is a viable instrument for strengthening hospital pharmacy practice in Nepal.
• Implementation can lead to enhanced quality of care and service delivery.
• The study provides a basis for provincial and federal-level research to inform policy.