COVID-19, health care and self-medication issues in resource-limited settings: Findings and implications based on experiences in Ghana

Introduction and Objectives: There have been concerns with the level of misinformation regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its treatment, drug shortages, as well as increased use and prices of anti-malarials, antibiotics and hygiene products during the recent pandemic. Community pharma...

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Main Authors: Israel Abebrese Sefah, Darius Obeng Essah, Mainul Haque, Sylvia A Opanga, Santosh Kumar, Ibrahim Chikowe, Dan Kibuule, Enos M Rampamba, Aubrey C Kalungia, Thuy Nguyen Thi Phuong, Zikria Saleem, Vanda Markovic-Pekovic, Amanj Kurdi, Brian Godman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
Series:Advances in Human Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.aihbonline.com/article.asp?issn=2321-8568;year=2021;volume=11;issue=3;spage=224;epage=233;aulast=Sefah
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spelling doaj-e81f57a4f16d4f3f8e48d32b676abdd82021-10-06T10:46:53ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsAdvances in Human Biology2321-85682348-46912021-01-0111322423310.4103/aihb.aihb_82_21COVID-19, health care and self-medication issues in resource-limited settings: Findings and implications based on experiences in GhanaIsrael Abebrese SefahDarius Obeng EssahMainul HaqueSylvia A OpangaSantosh KumarIbrahim ChikoweDan KibuuleEnos M RampambaAubrey C KalungiaThuy Nguyen Thi PhuongZikria SaleemVanda Markovic-PekovicAmanj KurdiBrian GodmanIntroduction and Objectives: There have been concerns with the level of misinformation regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its treatment, drug shortages, as well as increased use and prices of anti-malarials, antibiotics and hygiene products during the recent pandemic. Community pharmacists can play a significant role in disease prevention and treatment in the fight against COVID-19 including providing hygiene information and medicine availability across Africa and generally. Consequently, there is a need to review the role of community pharmacists in preventing unintended consequences during any pandemic as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the demand, availability and prices of suggested medicines for its management. Materials and Methods: Multiple approaches involving a qualitative review of the management of COVID-19 across countries coupled with a pilot study in Ghana among six purposely selected community pharmacists during the early stages of the pandemic assessing patterns of demand, availability and prices of medicines suggested for the management of COVID-19. Alongside this, pharmacists' future role enhancing appropriate medicine use in Ghana and wider combined with the help of senior level co-authors. Results: The majority (five out of six) of pharmacists in Ghana reported increased demand for hydroxychloroquine, antibiotics and vitamins as immune boosters resulting in shortages with price increases particularly for anti-malarials. Conclusion: The global lockdown had impacted on the supply and prices of medicines in Ghana similar to other countries. Community pharmacists can play a key role with encouraging safe medicine use, reducing self-purchasing of medicines and planning workflows during future pandemics including vaccinations. They can also help address potential misinformation and its consequences as well as the unintended consequences of pandemics including better management of non-communicable diseases.http://www.aihbonline.com/article.asp?issn=2321-8568;year=2021;volume=11;issue=3;spage=224;epage=233;aulast=Sefahcommunity pharmacistscovid-19ghanamisinformationself-medicationsupply chain
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Israel Abebrese Sefah
Darius Obeng Essah
Mainul Haque
Sylvia A Opanga
Santosh Kumar
Ibrahim Chikowe
Dan Kibuule
Enos M Rampamba
Aubrey C Kalungia
Thuy Nguyen Thi Phuong
Zikria Saleem
Vanda Markovic-Pekovic
Amanj Kurdi
Brian Godman
spellingShingle Israel Abebrese Sefah
Darius Obeng Essah
Mainul Haque
Sylvia A Opanga
Santosh Kumar
Ibrahim Chikowe
Dan Kibuule
Enos M Rampamba
Aubrey C Kalungia
Thuy Nguyen Thi Phuong
Zikria Saleem
Vanda Markovic-Pekovic
Amanj Kurdi
Brian Godman
COVID-19, health care and self-medication issues in resource-limited settings: Findings and implications based on experiences in Ghana
Advances in Human Biology
community pharmacists
covid-19
ghana
misinformation
self-medication
supply chain
author_facet Israel Abebrese Sefah
Darius Obeng Essah
Mainul Haque
Sylvia A Opanga
Santosh Kumar
Ibrahim Chikowe
Dan Kibuule
Enos M Rampamba
Aubrey C Kalungia
Thuy Nguyen Thi Phuong
Zikria Saleem
Vanda Markovic-Pekovic
Amanj Kurdi
Brian Godman
author_sort Israel Abebrese Sefah
title COVID-19, health care and self-medication issues in resource-limited settings: Findings and implications based on experiences in Ghana
title_short COVID-19, health care and self-medication issues in resource-limited settings: Findings and implications based on experiences in Ghana
title_full COVID-19, health care and self-medication issues in resource-limited settings: Findings and implications based on experiences in Ghana
title_fullStr COVID-19, health care and self-medication issues in resource-limited settings: Findings and implications based on experiences in Ghana
title_full_unstemmed COVID-19, health care and self-medication issues in resource-limited settings: Findings and implications based on experiences in Ghana
title_sort covid-19, health care and self-medication issues in resource-limited settings: findings and implications based on experiences in ghana
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
series Advances in Human Biology
issn 2321-8568
2348-4691
publishDate 2021-01-01
description Introduction and Objectives: There have been concerns with the level of misinformation regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its treatment, drug shortages, as well as increased use and prices of anti-malarials, antibiotics and hygiene products during the recent pandemic. Community pharmacists can play a significant role in disease prevention and treatment in the fight against COVID-19 including providing hygiene information and medicine availability across Africa and generally. Consequently, there is a need to review the role of community pharmacists in preventing unintended consequences during any pandemic as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the demand, availability and prices of suggested medicines for its management. Materials and Methods: Multiple approaches involving a qualitative review of the management of COVID-19 across countries coupled with a pilot study in Ghana among six purposely selected community pharmacists during the early stages of the pandemic assessing patterns of demand, availability and prices of medicines suggested for the management of COVID-19. Alongside this, pharmacists' future role enhancing appropriate medicine use in Ghana and wider combined with the help of senior level co-authors. Results: The majority (five out of six) of pharmacists in Ghana reported increased demand for hydroxychloroquine, antibiotics and vitamins as immune boosters resulting in shortages with price increases particularly for anti-malarials. Conclusion: The global lockdown had impacted on the supply and prices of medicines in Ghana similar to other countries. Community pharmacists can play a key role with encouraging safe medicine use, reducing self-purchasing of medicines and planning workflows during future pandemics including vaccinations. They can also help address potential misinformation and its consequences as well as the unintended consequences of pandemics including better management of non-communicable diseases.
topic community pharmacists
covid-19
ghana
misinformation
self-medication
supply chain
url http://www.aihbonline.com/article.asp?issn=2321-8568;year=2021;volume=11;issue=3;spage=224;epage=233;aulast=Sefah
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