Perceptions of Hospital Pharmacist’s Role in Pakistan’s Healthcare System: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Purpose: To investigate hospital pharmacists’ perception of their current clinical role in Pakistan’s healthcare system. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in a population that consisted of hospital pharmacists in Islamabad, Faisalabad and Lahore which are three cities in Punjab State, Pakistan. A sample of 116 hospital pharmacists was selected from public and private hospitals in these three cities. Results: At least 42.2 % of the hospital pharmacists were involved in patient education pertaining to drugs. Although they were willing to take personal responsibility for resolving drug-related problems encountered, 84.5 % of them conveyed that their current role is more focused on pharmacy record keeping. Only 57.8% of the pharmacist indicated that they were involved in compiling and updating of their hospital’s drug formulary. Conclusion: The findings suggest that hospital pharmacists in Pakistan do have concerns about their present professional roles and face significant barriers with regards to increasing their involvement in clinical services. However, they need to be proactive in their collaboration with other healthcare professionals if the concept of pharmaceutical care is to take root in the healthcare system.