Pharmacist-doctor collaboration during the pandemic, effective management of gastrointestinal pathology

Abstract

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the emergence of a potentially life-threatening disease (COVID-19) which has put tremendous pressure on the healthcare systems worldwide. Pharmacists, either from hospital or community pharmacies, are playing an essential role in the management of current COVID-19 pandemic as trustworthy partners of physicians, contributing to the reduction of drug-induced adverse events through medication guidance, thereby improving patient compliance and helping them regaining their confidence to overcome the disease. In the management of gastrointestinal symptoms that may or may not be in the context of COVID-19, pharmacists should recommend that patients consult a physician when gastrointestinal pathology is complex and associated with other symptoms.