Pharmaceutical Technologists Research Articles

HYDROPHILIC MATRIX TABLETS AS ORAL CONTROLLED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN 20TH CENTURY: A REVIEW

Matrix systems are easy to formulate compared to other controlled release dosage forms. The manufacture of matrix tablets involves the direct compression of blend of drug, retardant material and additives to form a tablet in which drug is embedded in a matrix core of the retardant. Alternatively, retardant-drug blends may be granulated prior to compression. Of the three classes of retardant material used to formulate matrix tablets, polymers that form hydrophilic matrices are attracting the attention of pharmaceutical technologists. These polymers include Methyl cellulose (MC), Hydroxy ethyl cellulose (HEC), Hydroxy popyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (NaCMC), carbomers, chitosan, plant gums etc. The hydrophilic matrix-formers alone or in combination with other excipients form gels in situ on coming in contact with biological fluids which control the drug release. The present review gives a detailed account on the factors to be considered in the design of hydrophilic matrix systems, formulation of hydrophilic matrix tablets, in vitro and in vivo evaluation methods and advances in the design of hydrophilic matrix tablets. This review further focuses on the development of oral controlled drug delivery systems using hydrophilic matrix carriers in 20th century.

Influence of Procurement Process on Availability of Essential Drugs in Public Health Facilities in Mombasa County, Kenya

Purpose: Procurement process and practices are crucial components in the successful realization of universal healthcare and in particular the availability of essential drugs. Despite multifaceted efforts and inputs to promote the quality of the procurement process challenges still exists in the availability of essential drugs. This study aimed to establish the influence of procurement planning, supplier selection, procurement financing and needs assessment on availability of essential drugs in the public health facilities in Mombasa County, Kenya. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study design which targeted level 4 and 5 health facilities in Mombasa County. The study target population was 1216 health workers who included medical laboratory personnel, clinical officers and medical officers, nurses, pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists. The study sample was 301. Methodology: Stratified sampling approach was used to distribute the sample among the cadre and random sampling method was used to select the respondents from each strata. Quantitative data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Findings: The study found that procurement planning, supplier selection, procurement, financing and needs assessment were significant factors in influencing the availability of essential drugs with P<0.05. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study recommended that counties conduct a comprehensive and regular need assessment of essential drugs in public health facilities, that they develop a robust procurement planning strategy that aligns with the identified needs and available financing, that there should be a transparent and competitive supplier selection process, and to establish strategic partnerships with international organizations, non-governmental organizations, or donor agencies that are committed to improving healthcare access.

Low selection of HIV PrEP refills at private pharmacies among clients who initiated PrEP at public clinics: findings from a mixed-methods study in Kenya

BackgroundIn Africa, the delivery of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) at public healthcare clinics is challenged by understaffing, overcrowding, and HIV-associated stigma, often resulting in low PrEP uptake and continuation among clients. Giving clients the option to refill PrEP at nearby private pharmacies, which are often more convenient and have shorter wait times, may address these challenges and improve PrEP continuation.MethodsThis mixed methods study used an explanatory sequential design. At two public clinics in Kiambu County, Kenya, clients ≥ 18 years initiating PrEP were given the option to refill PrEP at the clinic where they initiated for free or at one of three nearby private pharmacies for 300 Kenyan Shillings (~ $3 US Dollars). The providers at these pharmacies (pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists) were trained in PrEP service delivery using a prescribing checklist and provider-assisted HIV self-testing, both with remote clinician oversight. Clients were followed up to seven months, with scheduled refill visits at one, four, and seven months. The primary outcomes were selection of pharmacy-based PrEP refills and PrEP continuation. Following pilot completion, 15 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with clients who refilled PrEP were completed. We used descriptive statistics and thematic analysis to assess study outcomes.ResultsFrom November 2020 to November 2021, 125 PrEP clients were screened and 106 enrolled. The majority (59%, 63/106) of clients were women and the median age was 31 years (IQR 26–38 years). Over 292 client-months of follow-up, 41 clients (39%) refilled PrEP; only three (3%) at a participating pharmacy. All clients who completed IDIs refilled PrEP at clinics. The reasons why clients did not refill PrEP at pharmacies included: a preference for clinic-delivered PrEP services (i.e., pre-existing relationships, access to other services), concerns about pharmacy-delivered PrEP services (i.e., mistrust, lower quality care, costs), and lack of knowledge of this refill location.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that clients who initiate PrEP at public clinics in Kenya may have already overcome barriers to clinic-delivered PrEP services and prefer PrEP access there. To reach new populations that could benefit from PrEP, a stand-alone model of pharmacy-delivered PrEP services may be needed.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04558554 [registered: June 5, 2020].

Evaluation of Counterfeit Antimalarial Drug Awareness and Knowledge Among Pharmacy Attendants in Nairobi County, Kenya

Malaria presents a significant health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, leading to an increased demand for antimalarial drugs. However, the global prevalence of counterfeit drugs, estimated at 10%, jeopardizes treatment efficacy, resulting in an annual economic loss of $75 billion. In Kenya, the accessibility of antimalarials, particularly through pharmacies, exacerbates this issue. This study sought to address knowledge gaps on counterfeit antimalarials among pharmacy attendants in Nairobi County. Utilizing a cross-sectional descriptive survey, the research evaluated awareness levels of counterfeit antimalarial drugs among pharmacy attendants. The study involved five subsections, focusing on pharmacy professionals engaged in antimalarial sales, with a sample size of 251 determined using Cochran’s formula. Data collection methods included questionnaires and observation checklists. Instrument validity was ensured through a pre-test analysis, and reliability was assessed via training and a test-retest approach. Data analysis, performed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS, incorporates ANOVA at a 95% significance level. Surveying 251 pharmacy attendants in Nairobi revealed a slightly higher distribution of males (52.2%) than females (47.8%), primarily aged 18-24 (51%), holding TVET qualifications (60.2%), with an average work experience of four years (30.7%). Community pharmacies dominated (61.8%), and pharmaceutical technologists constituted the most prevalent professionals (29.5%). Artemether-Lumefantrine is the preferred antimalarial (36.7%). Concerning awareness of counterfeit drugs, 39.8% rely on the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, with 72.9% knowledgeable about counterfeit antimalarial effects. The study identifies correlations between knowledge levels and the color and odor of antimalarial drugs. The regression model (R²=0.093, F (3, 247) =8.422, p<0.001) signifies the predictive efficacy of drug characteristics on knowledge, with color and odor emerging as robust predictors. Despite commendable knowledge, there exists a perception gap among pharmacy attendants regarding counterfeit antimalarial drug campaigns and awareness training. Addressing this gap is crucial to preventing an increased distribution of counterfeit drugs in the sector.

Measuring the performance of computer vision artificial intelligence to interpret images of HIV self-testing results.

HIV self-testing (HIVST) is highly sensitive and specific, addresses known barriers to HIV testing (such as stigma), and is recommended by the World Health Organization as a testing option for the delivery of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Nevertheless, HIVST remains underutilized as a diagnostic tool in community-based, differentiated HIV service delivery models, possibly due to concerns about result misinterpretation, which could lead to inadvertent onward transmission of HIV, delays in antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, and incorrect initiation on PrEP. Ensuring that HIVST results are accurately interpreted for correct clinical decisions will be critical to maximizing HIVST's potential. Early evidence from a few small pilot studies suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) computer vision and machine learning could potentially assist with this task. As part of a broader study that task-shifted HIV testing to a new setting and cadre of healthcare provider (pharmaceutical technologists at private pharmacies) in Kenya, we sought to understand how well AI technology performed at interpreting HIVST results. At 20 private pharmacies in Kisumu, Kenya, we offered free blood-based HIVST to clients ≥18 years purchasing products indicative of sexual activity (e.g., condoms). Trained pharmacy providers assisted clients with HIVST (as needed), photographed the completed HIVST, and uploaded the photo to a web-based platform. In real time, each self-test was interpreted independently by the (1) client and (2) pharmacy provider, with the HIVST images subsequently interpreted by (3) an AI algorithm (trained on lab-captured images of HIVST results) and (4) an expert panel of three HIVST readers. Using the expert panel's determination as the ground truth, we calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for HIVST result interpretation for the AI algorithm as well as for pharmacy clients and providers, for comparison. From March to June 2022, we screened 1,691 pharmacy clients and enrolled 1,500 in the study. All clients completed HIVST. Among 854 clients whose HIVST images were of sufficient quality to be interpretable by the AI algorithm, 63% (540/854) were female, median age was 26 years (interquartile range: 22-31), and 39% (335/855) reported casual sexual partners. The expert panel identified 94.9% (808/854) of HIVST images as HIV-negative, 5.1% (44/854) as HIV-positive, and 0.2% (2/854) as indeterminant. The AI algorithm demonstrated perfect sensitivity (100%), perfect NPV (100%), and 98.8% specificity, and 81.5% PPV (81.5%) due to seven false-positive results. By comparison, pharmacy clients and providers demonstrated lower sensitivity (93.2% and 97.7% respectively) and NPV (99.6% and 99.9% respectively) but perfect specificity (100%) and perfect PPV (100%). AI computer vision technology shows promise as a tool for providing additional quality assurance of HIV testing, particularly for catching Type II error (false-negative test interpretations) committed by human end-users. We discuss possible use cases for this technology to support differentiated HIV service delivery and identify areas for future research that is needed to assess the potential impacts-both positive and negative-of deploying this technology in real-world HIV service delivery settings.

Moving policy to practice: role of advocacy in enabling provision of injectable contraceptives by pharmacists in Kenya.

Expanding access to contraceptive services by making them available in pharmacies and drug shops is a family planning high-impact practice. In 2018, Kenya's Ministry of Health amended its family planning guidelines to allow pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists throughout the country to provide subcutaneous and intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. Amending the policy did not necessarily mean that the policy would be implemented. The Advance Family Planning project launched an advocacy campaign to engage key stakeholders to work with the Ministry of Health to implement the policy. Consequently, a family planning training package for pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists was developed and rolled out. The advocacy process also led to strengthening family planning reporting by the trained pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists. To further enhance sustainability by ensuring a continuous pool of pharmacy professionals equipped with skills to provide family planning services, Advance Family Planning and its partners advocated with universities and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to revise the pre-service training curriculum to include family planning as a competence area for pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists. A key lesson learned is that policy formulation does not necessarily translate to policy implementation. Advocacy is often needed to move policy to practice, especially where resources are required. Policy implementation also requires incremental achievement of milestones and the need for advocacy for each step in the process. Implementation of the policy provision that allows pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists to provide injectable contraceptives has implications beyond family planning programs. It provides a point of reference for allowing pharmacists to offer other primary health care services, such as immunization, injectable HIV prophylaxis, and other interventions that might not be provided for in policy.

Pediatric Drug Development: Reviewing Challenges and Opportunities by Tracking Innovative Therapies.

The paradigm of pediatric drug development has been evolving in a "carrot-and-stick"-based tactic to address population-specific issues. However, the off-label prescription of adult medicines to pediatric patients remains a feature of clinical practice, which may compromise the age-appropriate evaluation of treatments. Therefore, the United States and the European Pediatric Formulation Initiative have recommended applying nanotechnology-based delivery systems to tackle some of these challenges, particularly applying inorganic, polymeric, and lipid-based nanoparticles. Connected with these, advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) have also been highlighted, with optimistic perspectives for the pediatric population. Despite the results achieved using these innovative therapies, a workforce that congregates pediatric patients and/or caregivers, healthcare stakeholders, drug developers, and physicians continues to be of utmost relevance to promote standardized guidelines for pediatric drug development, enabling a fast lab-to-clinical translation. Therefore, taking into consideration the significance of this topic, this work aims to compile the current landscape of pediatric drug development by (1) outlining the historic regulatory panorama, (2) summarizing the challenges in the development of pediatric drug formulation, and (3) delineating the advantages/disadvantages of using innovative approaches, such as nanomedicines and ATMPs in pediatrics. Moreover, some attention will be given to the role of pharmaceutical technologists and developers in conceiving pediatric medicines.

“We must help them despite who they are…”: healthcare providers’ attitudes and perspectives on care for young gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Nairobi, Kenya

BackgroundCompared to young heterosexual men, young gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (YMSM) face a disproportionate burden of sexual health conditions. This disparity is occasioned by factors such as criminalization and stigmatization of same-sex practices, YMSM’s limited access to non-judgmental and non-discriminatory health services, and challenges associated with healthcare delivery. We explored the attitudes and perspectives of tertiary academic institution-based healthcare providers (HCPs) toward provision of services to YMSM in Nairobi, Kenya.MethodsIn September 2021, six in-person focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with 36 HCPs drawn from six public tertiary academic institutions within the Nairobi metropolis. HCPs were drawn from six cadres: front office staff, nurses, clinicians, counsellors, laboratory technologists, and pharmaceutical technologists. Discussions were conducted in English, transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using NVivo version 12.ResultsAnalysis showed that despite expressing disapproval of same-sex practices, HCPs recognized their professional duty to provide care to YMSM, voiced challenges they experienced when providing care to YMSM, and suggested possible strategies for improving care for YMSM. Disapproval of same-sex practices mainly stemmed from HCPs’ personal values, societal norms and religious beliefs, though some HCPs identified religious principles such as the golden rule of “treating others as one would want to be treated” as motivation to providing care to YMSM. HCPs did not perceive criminalization of same-sex practices as a barrier to providing care to YMSM. Healthcare delivery challenges included inadequate knowledge and skills, a desire to “convert” YMSM’s perceived deviant homosexual to the normative heterosexual orientation, secondary stigma from other HCPs, and healthcare settings that did not support YMSM to disclose same-sex practices. Suggestions for improving care comprised sensitization and training of HCPs, encouraging more HCP-YMSM interaction, providing YMSM-friendly and inclusive services, and advocacy for YMSM services.ConclusionThere is need for interventions to improve HCPs’ knowledge of YMSM’s health needs, build skills to respond to these needs, and foster affirming attitudes toward same-sex practices. By so doing, YMSM can hopefully be able to access services that meet their needs, and are non-discriminatory, non-stigmatizing and non-judgmental.

Measuring the performance of HIV self-testing at private pharmacies in Kenya: a cross-sectional study.

HIV self-testing (HIVST) has the potential to support daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery in private pharmacies, but many national guidelines have not approved HIVST for PrEP dispensing. In Kenya, pharmacy providers are permitted to deliver HIVST, but often do not have the required certification to deliver rapid diagnostic testing (RDT). We estimated the performance of provider-delivered HIVST compared to RDT, the standard of care for PrEP delivery, at private pharmacies in Kenya to inform decisions on the use of HIVST for PrEP scale-up. At 20 pharmacies in Kisumu County, we trained pharmacy providers (pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists) on blood-based HIVST use and client assistance (if requested). We recruited pharmacy clients purchasing sexual and reproductive health-related products (e.g. condoms) and enrolled those ≥18 years with self-reported behaviours associated with HIV risk. Enrolled clients received HIVST with associated provider counselling, followed by RDT by a certified HIV testing services (HTS) counsellor. Pharmacy providers and clients independently interpreted HIVST results prior to RDT (results interpreted only by the HTS counsellor). We calculated the sensitivity and specificity of pharmacy provider-delivered HIVST compared to HTS counsellor-administered RDT. Between March and June 2022, we screened 1691 clients and enrolled 1500; 64% (954/1500) were female and the median age was 26 years (IQR 22-31). We additionally enrolled 40 providers; 42% (17/40) were pharmacy owners and their median years of experience was 6 (IQR 4-10). The majority (79%, 1190/1500) of clients requested provider assistance with HIVST and providers spent a median of 20 minutes (IQR 15-43) with each HIVST client. The sensitivity of provider-delivered HIVST at the pharmacy was high when interpreted by providers (98.5%, 95% CI 97.8%, 99.1%) and clients (98.8%, 95% CI 98.0%, 99.3%), as was the specificity of HIVST in this setting (provider-interpretation: 96.9%, 95% CI 89.2%, 99.6%; client-interpretation: 93.8%, 95% CI 84.8%, 98.3%). When compared to the national HIV testing algorithm, provider-delivered blood-based HIVST at private pharmacies in Kenya performed well. These findings suggest that blood-based HIVST may be a useful tool to support PrEP initiation and continuation at private pharmacies and potentially other community-based delivery settings.

Robotics and Aseptic Processing in View of Regulatory Requirements.

Several nanomedicine based medicinal products recently reached the market thanks to the drive of the COVID-19 pandemic. These products are characterized by criticality in scalability and reproducibility of the batches, and the manufacturing processes are now being pushed towards continuous production to face these challenges. Although the pharmaceutical industry, because of its deep regulation, is characterized by slow adoption of new technologies, recently, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) took the lead in pushing for process improvements using technologies already established in other manufacturing sectors. Foremost among these technologies, robotics is a technological driver, and its implementation in the pharma field should cause a big change, probably within the next 5 years. This paper aims at describing the regulation changes mainly in aseptic manufacturing and the use of robotics in the pharmaceutical environment to fulfill GMP (good manufacturing practice). Special attention is therefore paid at first to the regulatory aspect, explaining the reasons behind the current changes, and then to the use of robotics that will characterize the future of manufacturing especially in aseptic environments, moving from a clear overview of robotics to the use of automated systems to design more efficient processes, with reduced risk of contamination. This review should clarify the regulation and technological scenario and provide pharmaceutical technologists with basic knowledge in robotics and automation, as well as engineers with regulatory knowledge to define a common background and language, and enable the cultural shift of the pharmaceutical industry.

Role of Aminated Derivatives of Natural Gum in Release Modulating Matrix System of Losartan Potassium

Objective: The investigation aimed to synthesize amino derivatives of various natural gums like Xanthan gum and Tamarind gum for using them as a release modulating polymer in the formulation of the hydrophilic matrix system of losartan potassium and to find the best amongst them. Developing oral sustained release matrix tablets for a drug with a constant release rate has always been a challenge to the pharmaceutical technologist. 
 Materials and Methods: Release modulating hydrophilic matrix tablets of losartan potassium were prepared by wet granulation method. A total number of 6 formulations of release modulating hydrophilic matrix tablets of losartan potassium were prepared using different polymeric ratios of Carbopol 934, aminated Tamarind gum and aminated Xanthan gum based on preliminary trial bathes. The formulated tablets were evaluated for both pre-compression and post-compression evaluation studies. 
 Results: Based on in vitro drug release study the effective formulations AXG 3 are shows a maximum similar release profile to other remains formulations with a theoretical drug release profile of losartan potassium for sustained release. Finally optimized formulation AXG 3 containing carbopol 934 (60 mg), aminated xanthan gum (40 mg), MCC (190 mg) and magnesium stearate (10 mg) showed 100±0.024 % drug release in 12 hr which is acceptable with theoretical drug release of losartan potassium for sustain release dose. Conclusion: Aminated derivatives of xanthan gum and Tamarind gum extend the drug release for 12 hr. Based on in vitro drug release studies of formulations, we concluded that the alteration in the concentration of carbopol 934 with an aminated derivative of xanthan gum in sustain release formulation development was more effective and economical.

Stakeholder Capacity Building and Performance of the ARV Supply Chain system by NASCOP in Kenya

The study aimed at determining the effect of stakeholder capacity building on performance of the ARV supply chain system by NASCOP in Kenya. A combination of descriptive and explanatory research designs was employed in studying a target group comprising 541 pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists across Kenya. From these, 229 pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists were selected by use of stratified proportional sampling. An electronic questionnaire was used to collect primary data that was then analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentage, means, and standard deviation to draw insightful findings. To test the relationship and magnitude of relation between the variables, inferential statistics including correlation was used. The study realized that stakeholder capacity building is important at p=0.000 determined at 0.01 significance level. Of note was that capacity building correlated with project performance at 0.711. The study, therefore, recommended that NASCOP management should prioritize strengthening the capacity of the pharmacy stakeholders in the ART facilities countrywide. In particular, they should provide regular training on DHIS2, strengthen ARV records/ documentation and inventory management, and can conduct periodic supervision initiatives to track and assess the progress of ARV management in the pharmacies and stores across Kenya.

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Practice of Community Pharmacy in Kisumu County

Occurrence of pandemics affects every person in one way or another. The recent COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that even frontline healthcare providers are no exception. Pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists at the community pharmacy are often among the first healthcare provider’s patients visit during crises. They thus form a crucial team for supply of medicines, counselling, and controlling the spread of infections. There is either scanty or no data on how precisely the dispensation of community pharmacy was affected especially in Africa during the Covid 19 regime. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the practice of community pharmacy in Kisumu County. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving 100 subjects. Subjects were selected through convenient sampling method. Open ended questionnaires were used to collect data. The questionnaires were self-administered as google forms. Key informant interviews of sampled practitioners were also conducted. A total of 77 subjects responded to the shared questionnaire. A total of 89.6% were pharmaceutical technologists while 10.4% were pharmacists with majority being males (64.9%). Most (57.9%) had between 6 to 10 years of working experience but with no previous experiences (68.8%) on pandemics or national disasters. About 52.6% had received COVID-19 pandemic vaccination and most (70.1%) were trained on COVID-19 management and prevention. A total of 76.6% had been trained on vaccination but only 9.2% were in a position to carry out vaccination in their premises. Further, 58.4% agreed that the pandemic had negatively impacted their practice with most impact felt at socio-economic (97.4%) and psychological levels (75.3%). Moreover, all agreed the pandemic had affected supply chain especially in terms of drug costing (61%) and demand (62.3%). The demand of azithromycin (18.2%), face masks, sanitizers (10.4%) and dexamethasone were largely impacted. A total of 55.8% agreed that technology had impacted their practice during the pandemic in terms of online pharmacy services, especially through online prescription filling (97.7%). To adapt to changing times, practitioners had to increase client engagement (81.8%) and seek aid from financial institutions (55.8%) to stay in business. The pandemic had a slightly more negative than positive impact on the practice of community pharmacy in Kisumu County.

EVALUATION OF DISPENSING PRESCRIPTION ANTIBIOTICS AT THE COMMUNITY PHARMACY OUTLETS IN MOMBASA COUNTY

The role of the pharmacist or pharmaceutical technologist is to scrutinize errors in the prescription made and make appropriate recommendations/interventions to the prescriber if any. In many countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and India, drug retailers prescribe and sell medicines over-the-counter. The WHO advocates that rational dispensing principles should be followed at all times to ensure that patients receive adequate information regarding the use of dispensed medicines, so as to achieve the desired benefits. The objective of the study was to undertake an evaluation dispensing prescription antibiotics at the community pharmacy outlets. A descriptive cross sectional study design was used by the study. A sample size of 196 was calculated using Fisher’s formula. Stratified random sampling (nth of 10) was used to select community pharmacy outlets within Mombasa town. Simple random sampling was used to recruit the subjects into the study by assigning natural numbers to all prescriptions with an antibiotic during the study period. . A well designed checklist developed to capture study variables was used to collect data from the prescriptions as well as three interviews were carried out among the patients and pharmacists. The collected data was edited and transcribed before entered into SPSS version 21 for analysis and interpreted using tables, pie charts and graphs. The study findings show that the patient (89.3%) and prescribers name and address (83.7%) were well captured followed by prescriber signature (75.3%), safe dosing (75.5%), prescription date (63.3%), cautionary information (62.2%) and stamp (38.5%). Bivariate analysis findings show that all prescription legality or validity parameters were statistically significant. The study recommends that the prescribers should always adhere to prescribing guidelines, embrace the legality of prescriptions on appropriate diagnosis, appropriate drug and appropriate patient in order to limit any likelihood of drug misuse or abuse. The pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists should always not assume provided their patients with neat, clear and elaborate drug labels because it can reduce any likely mistakes and promote appropriate drug use

Farcial futile pharmacy fiasco -let pharmacy return to its apothecary roots!

INQUIRER – Congratulations! You are now a pharmacist. PHARMACIST- Thank you. INQUIRER-So what can you do as a pharmacist? PHARMACIST-I can sell people drugs after the doctor prescribes them. INQUIRER-Can you manufacture drugs? PHARMACIST- No I cannot. Chemists, chemical engineers, pharmaceutical scientists and pharmaceutical manufacturing technicians and technologists can do that. INQUIRER- So all you do is read the prescription, check your shelf and hand the drugs over to the patient.

Pharmaceutical Technology in Practice: A Personal View

Abstract This opinion piece argues that the collective knowledge of drugs and medicines, their nature, formulation and manufacture, their delivery and evaluation is unique to pharmacy and it reasserts the fact that science underpins the clinical use of medicines. It argues this from a personal standpoint of an academic pharmaceutical technologist and recounts examples from the author’s own experience.

STUDY OF PEANUT HUSK POWDER AS SUPERDISINTEGRANT IN THE FORMULATION OF FAST DISSOLVING TABLETS OF ONDANSETRON HYDROCHLORIDE

Fast dissolving tablets are considered as one of the rapidly moving products of novel drug delivery systems in the present pharmaceutical market. The development of new excipients for this technology is challenging task for pharmaceutical technologists. Disintegrants are one of the most important ingredients in the formulation of tablet dosage form. The aim of the present work was to test peanut husk powder, a natural material, as a disintegrant in the formulation of fast dissolving tablets of ondansetron hydrochloride. Tablet evaluation tests like hardness, friability, weight variation, disintegration and dissolution were performed for the prepared tablets. The obtained results were tabulated and they were found to be within the acceptable limits. Among all the formulations, formulation F6 containing peanut husk powder has shown the best disintegration property and based on the results it was found to be a superdisintegrant

Effect of Various Super Disintegrants on the Drug Release Profile of Orally Disintegrating Tablets

Pharmaceutical technologists have developed a novel oral dosage form which disintegrate rapidly in saliva, usually in a matter of seconds, without the need to take it water. The novel orally disintegrating tablet dosage form is used to improve patient convenience and compliance for administration of various therapeutic agents. Propranolol is metabolized in the liver during its first passage through the systemic circulation and has about 25% of the oral bioavailability. The aim of the present study was to develop and optimize orally disintegrating tablets of propranolol hydrochloride by using super disintegrants to give quick onset of action by rapidly disintegrating in a few seconds. Tablets were prepared by direct compression method using flat face 8mm size punch and evaluated hardness, thickness, weight variation, friability, drug content and dissolution tests and all the tests results are found to be within the pharmacopoeial limits. The drug release was rapid in formulation containing crospovidone as super disintegrants, followed by croscaramellose sodium and sodium starch glycolate. Crospovidone super disintegrants concentration in 15mg or 6% is suitable for the formulation of oral disintegrate tablets of Propranolol Hydrochloride.

Pharmaceutical counseling: Between evidence-based medicine and profits.

The number of pharmacies, which produce drug formulations locally, has recently considerably reduced in Russia. Pharmacies mainly operate as retailers of industrially manufactured drugs.Pharmaceutical consultation of customers at pharmacies aimed at responsible self-medication is the most popular and accessible feature of pharmaceutical care. In Russia there is a significant list of medicines approved for sale in pharmacies on a non-prescription basis that is specified in the product label. In this regard, the role of pharmacists in public health in Russia increases. Pharmacist, working directly with population, is an important figure for the rational use of medicines. This type of work requires high level of professional training and appropriate ethics. To explore the current status of pharmaceutical counseling in Russia. Situation analysis, surveys of pharmacists. Our experience in the system of postgraduate professional education, the results of the survey of pharmacists, and the long-term dialogue with pharmacists allowed us to identify several unresolved issues in the work of a pharmacist selling non-prescription drugs.Lack of differentiation in the functions of a pharmacist with a higher education and pharmaceutical technologist: In production/industrial pharmacy technicians are engaged in manufacturing of pharmaceutical formulations. However, due to the loss of production functions technologists had to move away from production laboratories of apothecaries to the sales area. Currently, the apothecary's assignment to receive prescriptions and dispense medications can be fulfilled by either a pharmacist or a pharmaceutical technician. It significantly discerns the pharmacy from the medical organization with clearly delineated functions of doctors and nurses. Russian regulations should consider the level of education required for high-quality pharmaceutical counseling.Contradiction between the pharmacist's special functions and trade procedure with the lack of pharmaceutical counseling standards: Article 1.1 "Code of Ethics of the pharmaceutical worker of Russia" states: "The main task of the professional activity of the pharmaceutical worker - protection of human health", Article 1.3 states that a pharmaceutical worker must take professional decisions solely in the interests of a patient [1]. However, the pharmacy is a trade organization, thus as a retailer the pharmacy is directly interested in making profits and increasing sales of pharmaceutical products, including non-prescription medicines. Moreover, while the clinical medicine is monitored for unjustified prescribing and measures are being taken to prevent polypharmacy, for a pharmacist the growing sales of over-the-counter drugs, active promotion of dietary supplements, homeopathic medicines, medical devices, and, consequently, an increase of financial indicators (particularly "average purchase size") - all are characteristics of success [2].Rational use of over-the-counter medicines requires introduction of pharmaceutical counseling standards (pharmaceutical care) according to symptoms - major reasons to visit a pharmacy as part of responsible self-medication (cold, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, etc.). Standards of pharmaceutical counseling should be objective, reliable and up-to-date and contain recommendations for the rational use of over-the-counter drugs as well as indications requiring treatment to the doctor. Standardization of pharmaceutical counseling in terms of Evidence-based Pharmacy would enhance the efficiency, safety and cost-effectiveness of over-the-counter medicines.Currently, the lack of clinical component in the higher pharmaceutical education and the lack of approved standards of pharmaceutical counseling lead to the introduction of cross-selling technologies (which are broadly applied in other areas of trade, for example, the offer of a boot-polish during the sale of shoes) to the pharmaceutical practice [2, 3]. However, drugs belong to a special group of products, proper selection of which requires special education, and the consumer is not always able to evaluate the quality of the recommendations. Marketing cross-selling recommendations are aimed at promotion of the over-the-counter medicines for customers buying prescription drugs. For example, business coaches recommend the pharmacists to make additional offers: with the purchase of physician-prescribed antibiotics - offer of vitamins, with prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - commercially available ointment with non-steroidal topical formulation ("to enhance the effect") and others. These recommendations do not agree with evidence-based medicine and lead to inefficient use of over-the-counter drugs and unjustified financial expenses. Thus, to ensure the rational use of medicines permitted for free (non-prescription) dispensing at the pharmacies, pharmaceutical information needs standardization on the basis of evidence-based medicine as well as standardization of the pharmaceutical counseling service. The development of practical recommendations on the rational use of over-the counter medicines by doctors and pharmacists with further adoption at the state level, the recommendation of most secure, efficient and cost-effective over-the-counter medications during pharmaceutical counseling in pharmacies will contribute to the restoration and preservation of public health.

Ophthalmic applications of lipid-based drug nanocarriers: an update of research and patenting activity.

Ophthalmic diseases collect great attention by researchers and pharmaceutical technologists, since they can dramatically worsen the quality of life. Because of the limited duration of action on the eye surface, and anatomical/physiological barriers to drug penetration from it into the inner eye structures, conventional ocular formulations are generally unable to perform at their best. Nanotechnology approaches can represent a solution to improve the therapeutic efficiency, compliance and safety of ocular drugs. In this respect, lipid-based nanocarriers are among the most interesting systems. Their composition and production methods make them highly biocompatible and safe formulations. This review illustrates the developments achieved in ocular drug delivery using lipid-based nanocarriers, with a critical revision of recent scientific articles and filed patents.