Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer

Norman Dunn, president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica (PSJ), is demanding that the role of clinical pharmacists be made permanent in every health facility in Jamaica.

Adding his voice to the ongoing debate with regard to prescription errors, Mr. Dunn said, "The missing link in the hierarchy of health professionals is clinical pharmacists, and that is the reason we are having this debate."

Greatest in-depth training

He said that in every efficient health sector the clinical pharmacist works alongside the doctor at both private and public health facilities to ensure correct prescription treatment. "The clinical pharmacist has the greatest in-depth training in drug therapy," he asserted.

Mr. Dunn said the PSJ disagrees with calls from the Nurses' Association of Jamaica (NAJ) that nurses be given responsibility for conducting independent assessments of prescription orders. Instead, he said all health officers must play their role to make the sector more efficient. Nonetheless, he said the pharmacist is the last line of defence to ensure safe prescription orders.

Noting that the nurses have their role on the hospital ward, Mr. Dunn said, "That's where they can examine prescription orders before handing them to patients."

Mr. Dunn told The Gleaner that the PSJ has appealed to the Ministry of Health and the Government for the position of the clinical pharmacist to be activated, but said its calls have proven futile.