75 % of Medicine Prepared by Non-Pharmacist in the Medium and Small-Sized Hospitals

It was reported that after the separation of the pharmacy and the clinic, medium and small-sized hospital nurses, who do not have pharmaceutical license, have been preparing the medicines due to pharmacists’ tendency to avoid working in the medical institutes.

Nationwide Medical Health Union announced the outcome of its ‘Hospital Medicine Service Survey,’ which was conducted at the 44 hospitals.

According to this survey, 75 % of powdered medicine, 89.7 % of syrup medicine, and 41.4% of drug medicine were prepared by non-pharmacists in 33 medium to small-sized hospitals.

There was also a case in which no pharmacist was on duty during the evenings and holidays.

An official from Union said that ‘In the local state owned hospitals, which belongs to the local autonomous institute, most of the medicine related works, such as syrup preparation, instruction for medication, are carried out by non-pharmacists. Even when there are pharmacists on duty, it marks only 9.1% in night duty and 8.3% in holiday duty’.

Meanwhile, it was estimated that 24.8% of pharmacists who belonged to the medium-sized medical institutes and 23.8 % of pharmacists who belonged to the small-sized medical institutes were reduced after the separation of the pharmacy and the clinic.

Jung Young-Gwan yongari@donga.com