Clinical pharmacy is a branch of hospital pharmacy that deals with various aspects of patient care, including the dispensing of drugs and advising the patient on the safe and rational use of those drugs.

1. Introduction to
Clinical Pharmacy
Practice
Ms. Shivanee Vyas
Assistant Professor
SVKM’s NMIMS, School of Pharmacy and Technology Management 1

2. Clinical Pharmacy
Clinical pharmacy is a branch of hospital pharmacy that deals
with various aspects of patient care, including the dispensing
of the drug and advising the patient on the safe and rational
use of those drugs.
Clinical pharmacy is a new-born discipline that carries
traditional hospital pharmacists from a product-oriented
approach to a healthier patient-oriented approach, so as to
ensure the patient's maximum well-being, while on drug
therapy.
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3. Objectives of Clinical Pharmacy
1. To assist the physicians in doing a better job of prescribing and monitoring drug therapy.
2. To assist nurses in administering medications (drugs).
3. To increase the patient’s role in the drug use process.
4. To maximize the effectiveness of drug therapy with minimum side effects or adverse
effects.
5. To decrease the patient’s non-compliance through patient counselling.
6. To study drug therapy and maintain the records of drug therapies, and report any
adverse effect or drug interaction to the PTC of the hospital and also to the physician of
the hospital.
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4. Role /Scope /Functions of Clinical Pharmacy /
Clinical Pharmacist
1. Preparation of the history of the patient.
2. Preparation of drug history.
3. Participation in the management of the medical emergency.
4. Participation in a drug investigation.
5. Participation in the management of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and
arthritis.
6. To control drug utilization.
7. To monitor drug therapy.
8. Counsel the patient.
9. To help in the selection of drug therapy for physicians.
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5. 10. To communicate with physicians and nurses through presentation and publication.
11. Detection and reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs).
12. To provide formal and informal consultation to the physician.
13. To explain the direction of use, route of administration and other related information
to the patients.
14. Collection of knowledge of drug therapy and pharmacokinetics of drugs.
15. To take part in patient education, vaccination programme and other programmes
related to social welfare arranged by the hospital.
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Role /Scope /Functions of Clinical Pharmacy /
Clinical Pharmacist

6. Abilities of Clinical Pharmacist
1. He should have the basic skill of communication.
2. He should know about the drug profile and pathophysiology of the disease.
3. He should have advanced knowledge of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and
biopharmaceutics.
4. He should have adequate patience and a better interest in the development of
clinical pharmacy.
5. He should have an interest in patient care.
6. He should have an art of giving information to the physician.
7. He should have knowledge of drug-drug interactions and adverse drug reactions.6

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YESTERDAY’S
PHARMACIST
TODAY’S
PHARMACIST

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