Roles of Pharmacists in Disaster Management

Roles of Pharmacists in Disaster Management:
"Disaster means a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or manmade causes, or by accident or negligence which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of property, or damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area“.

1. ROLES OF PHARMACISTS IN
DISASTER MANAGEMENT

2. WHAT IS DISASTER
"Disastermeansacatastrophe,mishap,calamityorgraveoccurrencein
anyarea,arisingfromnaturalormanmadecauses,orbyaccidentor
negligencewhichresultsinsubstantiallossoflifeorhumansufferingor
damageto,anddestructionofproperty,ordamageto,ordegradationof,
environment,andisofsuchanatureormagnitudeastobebeyondthe
copingcapacityofthecommunityoftheaffectedarea“.

3. TYPES OF DISASTER

5. MAN MADE DISASTER

6. PharmacyservicesetupduringtheeventusuallyconsistofMobile
pharmacyandtemporarypharmacyrelatedservices,Distributionofdrugs
andrelatedmedicalcare,Educatethecommunityonhealth,hygiene,and
wellbeing,Mentalhealthassessmentandcommunitycharacteristicand
Cooperationtosupportsustainablehealthsector.
Role of Pharmacist in Disaster Management

7. Pharmacistcandoalotforthecommunityinvariousdisasters.
Theycanprovideessentialservicessuchas:
1.Preventingandmitigatingthespreadofdiseasesbyeducatingthe
publiconhygieneandsocialdistancing,deliveringfacemasksandhand
sanitizer,andperformingscreeningandtestingforCOVID-19.
2.Respondingtothedisasterbyfocusingonthepharmaceuticalsupply
chain,ensuringtheavailability,quality,andsafetyofdrugsandmedical
supplies,managingdrugshortages,andpreventingprescriptionerrors.
3.Ensuringthecontinuityandqualityofpharmaceuticalcareby
administeringordistributingmedications,counsellingpatients,
identifyingdruginteractions,managingdrugshortages,andpreventing
prescriptionerrors.
4.Supportingthevaccinationeffortsbyeducatingthepublicaboutthe
benefitsandsafetyofvaccines,facilitatingtheirdistributiontoother
healthcareproviders,andadministeringvaccinestoeligiblepeople.

8. 5.Providingpatientcarebyadministeringordistributingmedications,
counsellingpatients,identifyingdruginteractions,managingdrug
therapy,andsupportingthevaccinationefforts.
6.Devisinghazardreliefstrategiesaspreventivemeasuresinthepre-
disasterphase,suchaspreparingemergencykits,stockinguponessential
drugs,andcoordinatingwithotherstakeholders.
7.Workingcloselywithhealthcareteamstoprovideoptimalcareto
patientsduringadisaster,bysharingtheirexpertiseinpatientcare,
logistics,governance,andpublichealth.
8.Mentalhealthsupport:Pharmacistscanplayanimportantrolein
providingsupporttodisastersurvivorswhomaybesufferingfrom
psychologicaldistress,suchasanxietyordepression.

9. 1. Prevention
Thisphaseinvolvesreducingtheriskofdisastersandmitigatingtheirimpact.Some
stepsforpharmacistsinthisphaseare:
▪Conductingariskassessmentofthepharmacyanditssurroundingstoidentify
potentialhazardsandvulnerabilities.
▪Developingadisasterplanthatincludesemergencycontacts,backuppowersources,
alternativecommunicationmethods,inventorymanagement,securitymeasures,and
evacuationprocedures.
▪Educatingthepublicandotherhealthprofessionalsaboutdisasterpreparedness,
suchashavingapersonalemergencykit,storingmedicationsproperly,and
disposingofexpiredordamageddrugs.
▪Participatingindisasterdrillsandexercisestotestthereadinessofthepharmacy
anditsstaff.

15. 2. Preparedness
Thisphaseinvolvesenhancingthecapacityandcapabilityofthepharmacyto
respondtodisasters.Somestepsforpharmacistsinthisphaseare:-
➢Updatingthedisasterplanregularlyandensuringthatallstaffarefamiliarwithit.
➢Stockinguponessentialmedications,supplies,andequipmentthatmaybeneeded
inadisaster,suchasantibiotics,analgesics,antiseptics,wounddressings,syringes,
andgenerators.
➢Establishinganetworkwithotherpharmacies,healthfacilities,anddisaster
agenciestocoordinatethedeliveryanddistributionofmedicationsandresources.
➢Trainingthestaffondisasterresponseskills,suchasfirstaid,triage,infection
control,andmentalhealthsupport.

16. 3. Response
Thisphaseinvolvesprovidingimmediateassistancetotheaffectedpopulation
duringadisaster.Somestepsforpharmacistsinthisphaseare:
➢Activatingthedisasterplanandfollowingtheinstructionsoftheauthorities.
➢Assessingthesituationandidentifyingtheneedsandprioritiesofthepatientsand
thecommunity.
➢Dispensingmedicationsandprovidingpharmaceuticalcaretothepatients,such
ascounselling,monitoring,screening,andreferral.
➢Collaboratingwithotherhealthprofessionalsanddisasterresponderstoensure
optimalpatientoutcomesandavoidduplicationofservices.
➢Documentingallactivitiesandreportinganyissuesorchallengestotherelevant
authorities.

18. 4. Recovery
Thisphaseinvolvesrestoringnormalcyandimprovingresilienceafteradisaster.
Somestepsforpharmacistsinthisphaseare:
•Evaluatingtheimpactofthedisasteronthepharmacyoperations,staff,patients,
andcommunity.
•Restoringthepharmacyservicesandreplenishingtheinventoryassoonas
possible.
•Providingongoingsupportandfollow-upcaretothepatients,especiallythose
withchronicconditionsormentalhealthproblems.
•Participatinginpost-disasterreviewsandlessonslearnedsessionstoidentify
strengthsandweaknessesofthepharmacyresponseandimprovefuture
preparedness.