Ellen Campbell -GrizzleEllen Campbell -Grizzle
HEALTH ISSUES will be on top of our 2005 agenda. There is a lot of information targeted at consumers. Gone are the days when it was unseemly to ask your doctor what was wrong with you. Then, your prescription was written in Latin and you were directed to the dispensary in the doctor's office for the medication to be mixed. The dispenser would encourage you by saying, "Doctor knows best".
Today, the Jamaican consumer is becoming an active partner in decisions related to health. Current data from the Pharmacy Council indicate that there are 336 registered pharmacies and 692 registered pharmacists in Jamaica. You can choose to access pharmacy services from several types of outlets.
Pharmacies in hospitals and clinics provide care for a wide range of persons. A recent innovation is the licensing of professional pharmacies, occupying smaller spaces, owned by pharmacists and restricted to the sale of medicinal products and the provision of related services. Larger community pharmacies continue to sell a wider range of products. The private pharmacy sector is growing at a rapid rate, especially in the rural areas.
INFORMATION SOURCES
Good information is a key basis on which to make the decision to access medicines and use them safely. Many Jamaican patients have several information sources including relatives and friends, physicians, health information in the print media, radio, television cable and the Internet, pharmacists at the time of medication purchase and afterwards, other health care providers and traditional healers.
Several consumers revel in the amount of information available. They often share this knowledge with friends and healthcare providers. Others appear to be overwhelmed and perplexed. We need to use information wisely to protect our health. As a general rule, if you have a health problem:
Find a physician who suits your needs.
Discuss your problems fully with your physician.
Take your prescription to the pharmacist of your choice.
Learn all you can about your condition and medication.
Ask your healthcare provider any questions that you wish.
Do not share your medication with others or assume that you have the answers for persons with similar health conditions.
A lot of excellent information about prevention is available. Pay attention to your diet and lifestyle choices. Be familiar with the signs and symptoms of common illnesses.
Good health helps us to cope better with stress, be more productive and sustain a positive attitude. Try to avoid using drugs as a crutch to deal with problems. Use health information, services and products available in a wise way. You are in charge of your health and have the right to choose.
Ellen Campbell Grizzle, president, Caribbean Association of Pharmacists; director, Information and Research, National Council on Drug Abuse; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
