The document discusses good dispensing practices for pharmacists. It emphasizes that pharmacists have an ethical duty to ensure patients receive the right drug, dosage, and instructions to avoid harm. A good dispensing environment is clean, organized and provides privacy for patients. When handling prescriptions, pharmacists must verify the prescription is legal, legible and complete before dispensing to avoid mistakes. Pharmacists should also counsel patients on how to take their medications and possible side effects.

1. GOOD DISPENSING
PRACTICE
“To know of something that is
harmful to another person who
does not know, and not telling, is
unethical”
Airene Barlin, RPh, MPH
FDRO II

2. GOOD DISPENSING PRACTICE
• ENSURES THAT THE RIGHT DRUG, IN
THE RIGHT DOSAGE FORM INDICATED
FOR THE PATIENT’S CONDITION, IS
DELIVERED TO THE RIGHT PATIENT,
IN THE PRESCRIBED DOSAGE AND
QUANTITY WITH CLEAR
INSTRUCTIONS AND IN A PACKAGE
THAT MAINTAINTS THE POTENCY AND
STABILITY OF THE DRUG

3. DISPENSING
• Is an important part of pharmacy, in which
the pharmacist or the pharmacy aide
(under the direct supervision of the
pharmacist) interprets the physician’s
requirements on the prescription and
accordingly supplies for the treatment of
his patient/s.

4. VARIOUS ACTIVITIES INVOLVED IN DISPENSING
ARE

5. (1) DISPENSING ENVIRONMENT
• A good dispensing environment ensures
that dispensing is carried out accurately
and efficiently.
- this sections covers the following:
1. Prescription counter- (ideally the
prescription counter should:)
> accessible to the patient
> be clean, orderly, attractive and marked
with an identifying sign or symbol which
can be easily identified and seen from
other parts of the pharmacy
> have a waiting area for clients who wait
for their prescription to be dispensed/filled

6. 2. Waiting area
• Can be provided
what should an ideal waiting area
provide:
> comfortable chairs/place to sit (at least
for the elderly/disabled/sick patients to
rest)
> current popular health magazines, and
carefully material related to good health
> pamphlets and posters related to public,
family and other individual health problems

7. REQUIREMENTS OF A GOOD
DISPENSING ENVIRONMENT
The dispensing environment should:
1.BE CLEAN
2.BE ORGANIZED
3.HAVE A SUFFICIENT SPACE
4.TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY
CONTROLLED
5.NO LOUD MUSIC PLAYING,
GOSSIPING,TALKING OR TELEVISION
6.HAVE MEDICINES STORED IN AN
ORGANIZED WAY ON SHELVES

8. “ A limited range of medicines
will be used with greatest
frequency, and these fast
movers may be placed in the
most accessible areas for
speed and convenience of the
dispensing staff or personnel”

9. BE CLEAN, GET ORGANIZED!!
GIVE THE PHARMACY A
PROFESSION LOOK

10. ADVANTAGE OF A GOOD
DISPENSING ENVIRONMENT
• Reduces dispensing error
• Reduces fatigue among pharmacy
staff
• Enhances services
• Improves the image of the pharmacy
• Increases clientele
• Increases speed
• Creates a professional image

11. (2) HANDLING PRESCRIPTION
• Prescription handling is a part of the
professional relationship between the
prescriber, the pharmacist and the patient,
it is the pharmacist’s responsibility in this
relationship to fulfill the medication needs
of the patient
2.1. Receiving the prescription- as clients
come into the pharmacy, they must be
made to feel attended to and comfortable
2.2. Reading the prescription and checking
for the completeness and corrections

12. - After receiving the prescription,
it is important for the pharmacist
to read the prescription to verify
whether
(A) LEGALITY
1. it is legal and complete with
respect to the various parts of
the prescription, and therefore
2. it can be dispensed, or not.

13. (B) LEGIBILITY
- A brief examination of each
prescription should be made
immediately upon receiving it from
the patient to ascertain the legibility
of various parts of the prescription.
- every prescription should be read
and understood thoroughly before
attempting to dispense it.
- every word, abbreviation, has a
meaning ( in case of doubt, consult
another pharmacist or the
prescriber)

14. “ NEVER DISPENSE GUESS
WORK”

15. (C) COMPLETENESS AND CORRECTNESS
- The prescription serves as a vehicle for
communication from the licensed
practitioner to the pharmacist about the
pharmaceutical care of the patient
DETAILS TO BE CHECKED
1. Physician’s details
2. Patient’s details
3. Check the product details (includes)
- Name of the product, dosage form,
strength/potency of the medicine, total
amount to be dispensed, dosage and
direction for use, frequency of
administration

16. INFORMATION/COUNSELLING TO BE
PROVIDED TO THE PATIENT
• LIST OF THINGS TO BE TOLD TO A PATIENT
• What each medicine is for.
• How to take each medicine, at what times, and how
many/much, before or after food.
• How to use certain devices.
• The instructions to be given for each medicine.
• The specific precautions to be taken with certain
medicines.
• What side effects to expect. What to do in case side
effects are experienced.
• What conditions should the medicines be stored under.

17. Thank you for your
attention!