The Ministry of Health, with support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), has launched a Brown Bag Medication Review Program at Health Centers across Grenada.
The main aim of this initiative is to assist patients with drug compliance and safety, and to educate them about their medication, while at the same time learning of their experiences in using their medication.
The campaign starts in St George’s and ends in Carriacou. Persons are required to bring their medicine to the pharmacies on specified days for the review.
The first and second review will take place on Friday 2, and Tuesday 6 October 2015, at St Georges and Grand Anse Health Centres.
All medication includes:
- Prescription medicines
- Over-the-counter medicines like your cough and cold, stomach and pain remedies
- Herbal medicines, vitamins & supplements
- In all dosage forms, such as tablets, liquids, powders, eye, nose and ear products, creams and ointments
Review to be done include:
- What the patient is taking
- Make sure the drugs are taken correctly
- Discuss any drug side effects that may be experience
- Screen for potential duplication of treatment
- Determine with the assistance of the physician if the patient can take fewer medicines
- See if any medications taken interact with each other.
The exercise is expected to provide an opportunity for patients to interact with the pharmacists and be informed about their medication. Patients may walk with their health card.
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