Options
The Sale of antibiotics without prescription at community pharmacies in Israel
Date Issued |
---|
2019-11-15 |
Students section.
ISBN 978-9955-15-632-1.
Bibliogr.: p. 52
Background: Antibiotic consumption has an important effect on microbial resistance. Nationwide data on the comparative use of antibiotics in outpatient settings in Israel have only been partially collected and published [1]. Moreover, the pharmacists play an important role in providing consultations and advices to patients. According to CDTM (Collaborative Drug Therapy Management), one of the pharmacists activities is initiating, modifying, and monitoring a patient’s drug therapy and educating patients about their medications which might reduce the microbial resistance development [2]. The aim of this study was to analyze the sale of antibiotics without prescription in Israel. Methodology: A simulated client methodology was used. Two cases of urinary tract infection were presented at pharmacies. Three levels of demand were used to convince the pharmacist to sell an antibiotic. The actor was a tourist from Russia and visited a sample of pharmacies among few community and private pharmacies existing in Israel. Overall all 32 pharmacies of Holon region were visited. Results: The antibiotics were not sold in any of 32 visited pharmacies. Even after three levels of demand which were used. A number of reasons with explanations were given by consulting pharmacists and what are other options of treatment without antibiotics were presented. The pharmacists referred to the prohibition of selling an antibiotic without an official prescription, they also added that violation of pharmacy laws or regulations will lead to the revocation of pharmacist
s license. Furthermore, the pharmacists offered any alernatine instead of the antibiotic. For instance: a preparation with cranberries for treatment. Most the pharmacists also recommended to see a doctor and the overall duration of consultation was 10-15 minutes. Conclusion: This research has shown that overall it is difficult to get antibiotic treatment without prescription in Israel, Holon region. The sample of demonstrat