Assessing Limitations and Solutions in Developing Clinical Pharmacy Services in Sri Lankan Government Hospitals: A Report from a Hospital Pharmacists’ Workshop

Adverse events related to unsafe medication practices remains a leading cause of avoidable injury and mortality. Although there is vast evidence to support clinical pharmacy services in improving medication safety, pharmacy departments in Sri Lankan government hospitals still primarily manage the distribution and provision of medicines. Acknowledging this, a Hospital Pharmacists’ Workshop was organised to identify factors that may impede clinical pharmacy services and medication safety practices in Sri Lanka, and further, collate recommendations to overcome these factors. A representative sample of Chief Pharmacists from hospitals around the workshop location of Kandy, representatives of the Society of Government Pharmacists (SGP) and Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka (PSSL) were invited as a sample of convenience attended the workshop hosted by the University of Peradeniya. The workshop was facilitated by experienced pharmacists visiting on behalf of the Collaboration of Australians and Sri Lankans for Pharmacy Practice, Education and Research (CASPPER) group. Delegates were divided into groups for facilitator led discussions. Issues, solutions and recommendations were discussed and agreed upon as one large cohort. The consensus objective identified by attendees was to support government pharmacists in recognising and improving identified patient, pharmacist and system factors that hinder the implementation of clinical pharmacy services. Developing and promoting the adherence to best practice standards, instituting competency standards for pharmacists, and streamlining current processes were the main modifiable recommendations proffered by attendees. It is acknowledged that service improvement is not an easy task. Actions from national groups, individual hospitals and universities are required to implement effective and sustainable changes as identified by attendees at this workshop.