Role of Pharmacists during Serious Disasters and Peace Time<br/>—From the View of a Physician—

Abstract

From April 9 to 16, 2011, I joined the first medical team at Ishinomaki as one of the supporting volunteers of Japan Primary Care Association for the 2011 East Japan Earthquake. I participated in launching the intensive care temporary clinic at Yugakukan. Yugakukan was one of the shelters set up right after the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. Later, it became the care unit for inpatients moved from Ishinomaki City General Hospital, which was crushed by the tsunami. Patients ranged in age and needs: from infant to elderly, and those needing internal and/or surgical medication or artificial dialysis. Under such conditions, we, as the first medical team members dispatched to the shelter, were concerned with the assessment of refugees and establishment of the management system of the shelter. Through the activities, I realized the utmost importance of "networking". In this paper, the role of pharmacists in disaster medicine, preparation for disaster medicine, and the role and function of pharmacists in community medicine under normal conditions will be demonstrated in relation to this keyword.