Purpose:
To investigate doctors’ perception and expectations of
the role of pharmacists in Pakistan’s healthcare system.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study and the study
population consisted of 462 medical doctors from three
Pakistani cities in Punjab State, namely, Islamabad,
Faisalabad and Lahore. The doctors were selected from
government hospitals in these three cities.
Results:
Three hundred and fifty four questionnaires were
returned, giving a response rate of 76.6 %. Sixty eight
percent of the doctors appeared comfortable with
pharmacists playing patient-centred roles. A majority
(84.5 %, n=299; p=0.022) expected pharmacists to take
personal responsibility for resolving any drug-related
problem. Furthermore, 76 % of them considered
pharmacists as knowledgeable drug therapy experts. Only
50 % of the doctors thought that pharmacists apply their
drug knowledge in practice while 11 % indicated that
pharmacists routinely counselled their patients.
Conclusion:
The doctors considered pharmacists drug information
experts but their expectation of pharmacists as
providers of quality clinically-focused pharmacy
services was low. The doctors were also uncomfortable
with pharmacists providing direct patient care.
Keywords:
Doctor, Pharmacist, Perception, Expectation,
Patient care, Pakistan.
