NONTHABURI, 26 April 2015 – The wide role of drugstores in primary healthcare has been emphasized at the 2015 general assembly of the Drugstores’ Club of Thailand held today at IMPACT, Public Health Minister Ratchata Ratchatanawin said after the meeting’s opening ceremony.
The general assembly now in its 41st year involves over 7,000 member drugstores all across Thailand. It is a venue for drugstore operators to share experiences, exchange pharmaceutical knowledge and discuss developments
According to Dr.Ratchata, drugstores play a robust role in basic healthcare for people in Thailand. It is the first place persons with a mild sickness visit conveniently before they go to the hospitals or state medical centers.
Dr.Ratchata revealed that the Public Health Ministry has put effort into upgrading the quality of service in drugstores nationwide. It has drafted a new ministerial regulation which requires all drugstores in the country to employ at least one professional pharmacist.
Pharmacists must always be on standby while the drugstore is open, so that they can give accurate guidance on each medicine to customers, especially those who need either antibiotic or birth control pills.
He also assigned the Food and Drug Administration to provide periodic training courses for owners of drugstores in order to enhance their knowledge and expertise in taking care of people’s health at the pharmacy level.
