This study emphasizes the importance of proper storage of pharmaceuticals in pharmacy premises till it reaches the consumer. The loss of potency during storage may influence the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical products require controlled storage and transit conditions in order to ensure that their quality is not compromised. Storage is an important aspect of the total drug control system. Proper environmental control (i.e., proper temperature, light, and humidity, conditions of sanitation, ventilation, and segregation) must be maintained wherever drugs and supplies are stored in the premises.

INTRODUCTION

Drug storage is among the pharmacist’s most important responsibilities. Therefore, adequate methods to assure that these responsibilities are met must be developed and implemented. The pharmaceutical are to be stored under conditions that prevent contamination and, as far as possible, deterioration. The stability of product retain within the specified limit, throughout it period of storage and use. Precautions that should be taken in relation to the effects of the atmosphere, moisture, heat and light are indicated. During storage of the pharmaceutical products is one of the fundamental concerns in patient care. The conditions under which pharmaceutical products are manufactured and stored can have a major impact on their quality. High temperature and relative humidity (RH) are the most important factors involved in drug degradation.

Factors such as temperature, humidity, air quality, time and production process characteristics can all have a significant impact on the final quality, and therefore the saleability, of a product or batch of products. For many products requiring storage in cool conditions, refrigeration plant is widely used, which needs to be carefully monitored to ensure that the correct temperatures are maintained. Stock must be stored in appropriate and auditable environmental conditions.

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Appropriate conditions of light, humidity, ventilation, temperature and security should be ensured. All medicinal products must be stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions and within the terms of product authorizations. Pharmacy stock should be stored under suitable conditions, appropriate to the nature and stability of the product concerned4. Particular attention should be paid to protection from contamination, sunlight, UV rays, moisture, atmospheric moisture and extreme temperatures. During storage, medicines should be retained in the manufacturer’s original packaging. Good storage practice is applicable in all circumstances where pharmaceutical products are stored throughout distribution process.

Pharmaceutical products should be packed in a well closed container that protects the contents from contamination by extraneous solids, liquids or vapors and the loss of the products under normal conditions of handling and storage. The following factors to be taken in consideration for proper storage:

1. Sanitation
2. Temperature
3. Light
4. Moisture
5. Ventilation
6. Segregation

Different pharmaceutical product storage temperature on the basis of stability studies as given below:
Freezer: A place in which the temperature is maintained thermostatically between -25^ºC and – 10^ºC (-13^ºF and -14^ºF).
Cold: Any temperature not exceeding 8^ºC (46^ºF). A refrigerator is a cold place in which the temperature is maintained thermostatically between 2^ºC and 8^ºC.

Cool

Any temperature between 8^ºC and 15^ºC. Any pharmaceutical products for which storage in a cool place directed may, alternatively, be stored in a refrigerator, unless otherwise specified in the individual monograph. Good storage practice (GSP) is applicable in all circumstances where pharmaceutical products are stored through the distribution processes. For additional guidelines relating the general principles of storage of pharmaceutical products, refer to the WHO guidelines on good storage practices.

STORAGE CONDITION ON LABEL

Storage conditions for pharmaceutical products and materials should be in compliance with the labelling, which is based on the results of stability testing Storage conditions should be defined and described on the label of the product. All drugs should be stored according to the conditions described on the label. When specified on the label, controls for humidity, light, etc., should be in place. Storage areas should be designed or adapted to ensure good storage conditions. The label should specify any special storage conditions required for the product. Written procedures should be available describing the actions to be taken in the event of temperature excursions outside the labeled storage conditions.

All excursions outside the labeled storage conditions must be appropriately investigated and the disposition of the stock in question must be evidence-based (for example, stability data and technical justification). Stability testing thus evaluates the effect of environmental factors on the quality of the a drug substance or a formulated product which is utilized for prediction of its shelf life, Determine proper storage conditions and suggest labeling instructions.

Storage of Tablet
Storage on label: Store in a cool, protected from light and moisture. Store in a cool and dark place, protected from light and moisture. Keep in a dry dark place. Store in cool dry and dark place.

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Storage of Capsule
Storage on label: Store in a cool and dry place, protected from light.

1. Storage of Emulsion: An emulsion should be stored in air tight container, protected from light, high temperature or freezing. The emulsions are required to be in cool place.
2. Storage of Suspension: Suspension should be stored in a cool place but not be kept in a refrigerator. Freezing at a very low temperature should be avoided which may lead to aggregation of the suspended particles.
   • Storage on label: Store in cool and dry place, protect from heat and light. Store in a cool and dark place, protect from direct sun light. Keep in dry place at a temperature not exceeding 30 ºC. keep the bottle tightly closed. Store below 25 ºC, protected from moisture. Store at temperature not exceeding 30 ºC, protect from light.
3. Storage of Ointment: Ointment should be stored in well closed container so as to prevent the loss of volatile constituents. The ointment should be protected from high temperature or direct sunlight.
   • Storage on label: Keep in a cool place.
4. Storage of syrup: The syrup should be stored in well closed and stopper bottle in a cool dark place. The syrup should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 25^ºC.
   • Storage on label: Store in cool, dry and dark place. Store in a cool and dry place, protected from light. Store in a cool place, protected from direct sunlight.
5. Storage of injection
   • Storage on label: Store below 30^ºC, protected from light. Store below 25^ºC, protected from light.

Drugs products that must be stored under defined conditions require appropriate storage instructions. Unless otherwise specified stated deviation may be tolerated only during short term interruptions. Improper storage of insulin decreases the potency and hence the pharmacological action of insulin. Patients should be educated on the proper methods of storage. Insulin is one such labile drug, sensitive to extreme temperatures and sunlight and hence needs to be stored under refrigeration between 2- 8°C.

Containers and Container Labeling

1. Any controlled transport and/or storage conditions as well as warning statements (for example, “Time and Temperature Sensitive”, “Do Not Freeze”) should be clearly stated on the label applied to shipping containers. This label should be securely affixed and indelible. The label and shipping documents should clearly state that these products should be transferred without delay to the specified storage temperature upon receipt.
2. Shipping containers should be qualified to meet the expected extremes of ambient temperature within the distribution environment, if they provide the primary means of environmental control for the drug product.
3. Selection of a shipping container and/or box should be based on:
   • The space required for the volume of drugs to be transported.
   • The anticipated extremes of ambient temperature.
   • The estimated maximum length of time required for transportation of the drugs, including any in transit storage.
4. When warm/cold packs are placed in containers used to transport drugs:
   • The type, size and number of packs should correspond to the shipping duration and temperature needed.
   • The location of the packs should ensure that the entire shipment of the product is maintained within the labeled storage conditions.
   • Adequate barrier materials should be used to prevent contact between the packs and the products, if the packs are at a temperature outside the range acceptable for product storage.
5. The use of dry ice in the transportation of drugs must not adversely affect the drug product or the primary package and must be handled in accordance with the indication.
6. Temperature monitoring devices or temperature indicators should be used when appropriate. If temperature excursions outside predetermined temperature conditions, as per the labelled storage conditions occur, these excursions must be assessed and documented to determine product disposition. Corrective action should be implemented where necessary and documented. Clear directions should be provided to the recipient for the evaluation of monitoring devices/indicators and disposition of the products.

Storage Area

1. Storage areas should be of sufficient capacity to allow the orderly storage of the various categories products, namely bulk and finished products, products in quarantine, and eleased, rejected, returned or recalled products.
2. Storage areas should be designed or adapted to ensure good storage conditions. In particular, they should be clean and dry and maintained within acceptable temperature limits. Where special storage conditions are required on the label (e.g. temperature, relative humidity), these should be provided, checked.
3. Pharmaceutical products should be stored off the floor and suitably spaced to permit cleaning and inspection.
4. A written sanitation programme should be available indicating the frequency of cleaning and the methods to be used to clean the premises and storage areas.
5. Pharmaceutical products should be handled and stored in such a manner as to prevent contamination, mix-ups and cross-contamination.
6. Narcotic drugs should be stored in compliance with international conventions, and national laws and regulations on narcotics.
7. Radioactive materials, dangerous drugs, psychotropic substances, and cytotoxic drugs should be stored in dedicated areas that are subject to appropriate additional safety and security measures.

Temperature-controlled storage

Pharmaceutical manufacturers have long realized the importance of a robust and efficient, temperature controlled supply chain. In some areas, notably in the storage of pharmaceutical products, it has been necessary for the regulatory authorities to introduce guidelines or legislation to ensure compliance to temperature limits. The storage environment needs to be temperature-mapped and have relevant controls in place to avoid extremes of temperature. Probes monitoring the environmental conditions need to be calibrated to a certified internal standard and be regularly checked and maintained to ensure continued accuracy of data recorded. Time and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical product (TTSPP) which, when not stored or transported within predefined environmental conditions and/or within predefined time limits, is degraded to the extent that it no longer performs as originally intended.

VACCINE STORAGE

accines are expensive and fragile, and storing them at the proper temperature is essential to providing effective immunizations. The vaccines should always be stored in their original packaging until point of use to protect them from light. Immunization programs have had a major impact on the health status of the world’s population by preventing many cases of infectious diseases through immunization. The vaccine temperature must be maintained in an insulated container between +2^ºC to +8^ºC at all times. Vaccine storage and handling are key components in maintaining the efficacy of immunization programs. Cold chain refers to the process used to maintain optimal conditions during the transport, storage, and handling of vaccines, starting at the manufacturer and with administration of the vaccine.

The optimum temperature for refrigerated vaccines is between 2°C and 8°C. For frozen vaccines the optimum temperature is –15°C or In addition, protection from light is a necessary condition for some vaccines. Vaccines are sensitive biological products that may be less effective, or even destroyed, when exposed to temperatures outside the recommended range. Vaccines exposed to temperatures above or below the recommended temperature range experience some loss of potency with each episode of exposure. All vaccines have a predetermined shelf life and the potency of vaccines is guaranteed by the manufacturers up to the expiry date as stated on the product, if stored within the safe temperature range of between 2^ºC and 8^ºC.

In general, there are two types of vaccines: live attenuated and inactivated. Live attenuated vaccines consist of a weakened form of the virus itself. They are easily damaged or destroyed by heat and light, making it even more important that they be stored and handled with extreme care.

COLD CHAIN

The pharmaceutical products storing and distributing environmentally sensitive product focus is to provide cold chain management for temperature pharmaceuticals to ensure that the quality and efficacy of the product will not be compromised. All vaccines are sensitive biological substances and all will lose their potency that is, there ability to give protection against disease with time. This loss of potency accelerates as vaccines are exposed to higher or lower temperatures. In order to, maintain their quality, all vaccines must be continuously stored within the appropriate temperature range from the time they are manufactured until the moment of use. Ones vaccines potency is lost, it cannot be regained or restored and without proper care, any vaccines may eventually lose all its potency. When vaccines lose potency, they can no longer protect individual from disease.

The vaccine will lose it potency faster if stored in unfavourable conditions. It is therefore to store at the correct recommended temperature so that full potency is retained till its administration or expiry date.

Vaccines are sensitive to heat and freezing and must be kept at the correct temperature from the time they are manufactured until they are used. The system used for keeping and distributing vaccines in good condition is called the cold chain. The cold chain consists of a series of storage and transport links, all designed to keep vaccines within an acceptable range until it reaches the user.

The success of any immunization programme depends on administering effective vaccines. Vaccines quickly lose effectiveness if they get too hot or cold during transport and storage. It is therefore essential to maintain an unbroken cold chain for the vaccines from the point of manufacture, during transport and during storage in a refrigerator until they are used to vaccinate someone. accines should always be stored in trays in the middle of the refrigerator or freezer, never in the doors. The reason for this is that items stored in the door are frequently exposed to warm temperatures when the unit is opened.

COLD CHAIN EQUIPMENT

All cold chain equipment has to comply with a set of performance standards defined by the WHO EPI program and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), or national policy. Only proven methods should be used to transport or store vaccines: for example, insulated containers proven through electronic temperature logging as reliable in maintaining the recommended temperature (solid wall transport containers, double walled transport containers and polystyrene containers).

Vaccine Cold boxes

A cold box is an insulated container that can be lined with ice-packs to keep vaccines and diluents cold during transportation and/or short period storage (from two to seven days). Cold boxes are used to collect and transport monthly vaccine supplies from district stores to the health facility. They are also used to store vaccines when the refrigerator is out of order or being defrosted and for outreach and mobile sessions in addition to vaccine carriers. Different models of cold boxes have different vaccine storage capacities.

Health facilities usually need one or more cold boxes that can hold:

1. A one-month supply of vaccines and diluents
2. A one–to–two week reserve stock of vaccines and diluents.

In addition to their vaccine storage capacity, cold boxes are selected according to their cold life. Different models have a cold life of two to seven days depending on the temperature outside.

VACCINE VIAL MONITOR

It contains a chemical that becomes darker in response to heat over time. This indicator is printed as a small square against a larger circular background, which itself has a pre-printed reference colour. The colour of the preprinted background square can also be increased or decreased. As a result, the VVM can be set to approximately track the time-temperature sensitivity curve of materials. This permits minor breaks in the cold chain to be accommodated without undue vaccine wastage and ensures that heat- compromised vaccine is “flagged” to be discarded.

A VVM is a low cost indicator that is printed onto the label of a vaccine vial, attached to the vaccine vial cap, or affixed on the ampoule neck. The indicator changes color when the vial has been exposed to warm temperature over an extended period of time. The VVM does not measure the actual potency of the vaccine inside the vial but instead indicates if unacceptable heat exposure has occurred and probably damaged the vaccine in that specific vial.

CONCLUSION

Maintaining proper storage conditions at hospital and community pharmacies is essential to reduce such impact caused by environmental factors. The pharmaceutical products were found to retain their potency when stored in pharmacies having good storage facilities. Hence the regulatory authorities and pharmaceutical organizations should highlight the importance of maintaining good storage conditions in hospital and community pharmacies. All vaccines are sensitive biological substances which are susceptible to heat, light and/or freezing. They will lose their potency with time but this becomes more rapid if vaccines are not continuously stored at the temperature appropriate for them from the time they are manufactured till the time of use.

REFERENCES

1. Bajaj S, Singla D, Sakhuja N. Stability testing of Pharmaceutical products, J. of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, Vol. 02(03), 2012, 129-138.
2. Kiron SS, Shirwaikar A, Saritha M. Influence of storage conditions on the potency of amoxicillin dispersible tablets stored in hospital and community pharmacies in different regions of kerala, Asian J. Pharm Clin Res, Vol 4, Issue 3, 2011, 101-102.
3. Kommanaboyina B, Rhodes CT. Trends in stability testing, with emphasis on stability during distribution and storage, Drug Dev Ind Pharm, 1999, 25: 857–868.
4. Sanjay Bajaj, Dinesh Singla and Neha Sakhuja. Stability Testing of Pharmaceutical Products, J. of Applied Pharm. Science 02 (03), 2012, 129-138.
5. Central Drugs Standard Control Organization. Guidelines on good distribution practices for pharmaceutical products, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2013, Directorate General of Health Services.
6. Shultz J, Harvie M, McDonald D, Manley J, Cole M. Standardizing the storage and labelling of medications: Part 2. Can J. Hosp Pharm, 2007, 60(3), 101-104.
7. WHO expert committee on specification for pharmaceutical preparations. Thirty seventh report, Geneva, world health organization, 2003, WHO technical report series, no. 908, Annex 9.
8. Vimalavathini R, Gitanjali B. Effect of temperature on the potency & pharmacological action of insulin. Indian J. Med. Res 130, August 2009, 166-169.
9. World Health Organization. Guide to good storage practices for pharmaceuticals, WHO Technical Report Series, No. 908, 2003, Annex 9.

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The historical preview of health and technology has a great impact on Human existence. Drug Discovery and development and how the drug are being handled in a society and two different domain of pharmacy. A brief history of advent of pharmacy profession is being discussed here to give a clarification for readers. The evaluation of pharmacy from manufacturing to patient centric care path explains the multiple role of pharmacist.

A community pharmacy is a healthcare facility that is able to provide pharmacy services to people in a local area. A community pharmacy dispenses medicine, typically involving a registered pharmacist with the education, skill and competence to deliver professional service to he community.

Introduction

A community pharmacy, often referred to retail pharmacy or retail drug outlets is places where medicines are stored and dispensed supplied or sold. The general population usually calls community pharmacist “medical stores.” Pharmacists working in the community practice setting are either diploma pharmacists or graduate pharmacists with B. Pharm degrees. Throughout this paper the word “Pharmacist” has been used to describe both types. Pharmacists are registered under the clause (i) and section (ii) the Pharmacy Act 1948, and their presence is legally required during the dispensing and selling of medicines according to Rule 65 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945.

The public perception of community pharmacy and the pharmacist is very weak. The general population considers community pharmacists as drug traders and obviously not better than the general store owners. Consumers and patients consider a visit to the medical store to purchase drugs in much same way they consider a visit to a grocery to buy food items. The educated people consider the retail pharmacist as a person who has acquired a drug licence to supply the medicines or a grocer who deals in medicines. They think anyone in our country can open a stationary shop and a medical store (i.e. pharmacy) also.

Preparation of shelf display materials for the community pharmacy

Modern Pharmacy Shelving Systems Design: If your sales have slowed down or your shelving is simply outdated, a new and modern design might be in order. However, before you make a change, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. One area to consider is product categories that aren’t moving out of the store. It’s important to ensure that products are shelved in categories, there’s ample space between brands, and there’s enough contrast between products. Next, consider how customers feel in your store. Do they feel that they can find a variety of products? Are they confident that you are focusing on their needs rather than commercial interests? Third, there’s nothing worse than a disorganized, cluttered display.

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Making sure that your shelving is able to display products in an organized fashion will help customers more easily find the products organized fashion will help customers more easily find the products they’re searching for in an approachable way. Lastly, consider the ability to safely display controlled products without impeding your customer’s ability to see and purchase them. An innovative shelving design can do just that and even increase sales when executed properly.

Pharmacy Fixtures Should Be Functional and Attractive: While attractive shelving is a must for your displays, that’s not the only consideration. Pharmacy fixtures should also be functional. A functional pharmacy display keeps your merchandise organized and displayed properly. One option is gondola units, which can hold almost any item effectively. Another aspect of functional shelving is that they can be used again and again. Purchasing high quality shelving units will provide you with long lasting shelving solutions. To address the attractive side of pharmacy fixtures, as we mentioned before, the way your store looks matters to customers. It affects how they feel while in the store, as they look for the items they need. And yet another aspect of making sure your fixtures look attractive your competition is focusing on this. If a competitor’s store looks and feels better for customers, they may choose your competition over you.

Retail Pharmacy Store Design must attract and Impress: Related to functional and attractive pharmacy fixtures, retail pharmacy store designs should likewise be appealing and impressive for customers. One obvious way to improve your store’s appearance is simply to update it. An older design is noticed by customers. Consider modernizing different aspects of the store as well as switching from fluorescent lighting to soft indirect lighting. Another tip to help customers as well as sales is to ensure that products are no higher than eye level. This might mean updating your shelving so that there aren’t displays with higher shelves than others. It’s also helpful to keep in mind that your signage can clearly guide customers throughout the store and to the sections they’re searching for. Lastly, setting up your store with the product displays in mind is essential. If customers are encouraged to stroll throughout the store, they will more easily see the products you have on display and potentially find items they didn’t realize they needed.

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How to Enhance the Design of Your Long Term Care Pharmacy: When it comes to the design of a long term care pharmacy, design needs to be approached a bit differently. Since long term care pharmacies are typically located in a hospital, nursing home, skilled nursing facility, group home, assisted living facility, or hospice, the focus is completely on the quality of care for patients. A few areas to consider for long term care pharmacies include the use of technology and pharmacy workflows. Using computers and its programs can assist with electronic drug prescribing and dispensing, while also monitoring the safety of the different medications patients are using. With automated dispensing machines, allow for secure storage of medications and also alleviate the need for manual documentation of supplies and allow for a more accurate inventory. Lastly, considering the pharmacy workflow is another key aspect of your design. Thinking about the proper placement of shelving, counters, desks, and other component fixtures will improve the efficiency of your pharmacy.

Improve Safety and Security with Pharmacy Remodeling: The safety and security of your pharmacy design cannot be overlooked. This should affect every area of the store from doors and windows to the safe storage of narcotics in the dispensing area to shelving design. One essential way to keep your store safe is the installation and use of cameras, motion detectors, and other alarms that will notify you and authorities should a break-in occur. In order to protect customers, your pharmacy design should also take into consideration how solid and safe your fixtures are. This may also include ensuring that aisles are wide enough and products are within easy reach. Change Styles A third area to consider when it comes to safety, is the dispensing of medication. The appropriate equipment can ensure that you have a smooth and efficient workflow as well as prevent any inaccuracies. Lastly, technology that uses E-prescribing and incorporates electronic health records (EHR) can be incredibly helpful.

Conclusion

As the role of pharmacists as health care providers expands, community pharmacies are providing more services to patients. While patients are generally satisfied with the services they receive from community pharmacists, their expectations are sometimes low and increase as patient exposure to advanced services increased. Pharmacists can have a greater impact on patient satisfaction through greater interpersonal skills than through the provision of new services; however, patients may be expanding their perceptions of how community pharmacists can be involved in their care beyond medication dispensing and counseling.

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I attempted to depict the entire idea of pharmacy management software, POS, and billing in this piece. Additionally, it demonstrated some astounding knowledge of pharmacy billing software and its advantages, including how pharmacy management software can increase productivity and improve CRM.

What is Pharmacy Billing Software?

Software for pharmacy management or billing provides a comprehensive system for any pharmacy or medical store. Pharmacy billing software records all of the transactions made at daily sales and helps the entire medical pharmacy shop process translations quickly and easily. Other features of pharmacy management software will also help you run your pharmacy business more effectively. requirements like inventory control, medication administration, a real-time report recording system, a module to monitor the expiration dates of medications, POS invoice management, etc.

Pharmacy billing software, also known as medical shop billing software, streamlines your pharmacy store by automating all of the laborious tasks. The purpose of this pharmacy management system’s creation is to improve workflow management, sales report organization and recording, and medical record quality. Consequently, be able to provide each and every customer with the fastest and best service possible.

Let’s Get Introduce With The New Flow Of Digitalization Pharmacy Billing Software

We have witnessed a tremendous advancement in technology over the last few decades. Nowadays, technology is being used and implemented in every industry. In the medical and health fields, automation systems improve productivity and have the potential to save millions of lives. Additionally, automation has greatly increased the accuracy of repetitive and routine tasks. Additionally, POS billing machines are frequently found in restaurants and superstores, and they consistently provide us with quick, easy, and effective billing services.

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Many people have already fallen in love with this new technology because of its quick service and effective function. Why don’t a pharmacy or medical shop integrate this POS billing automation software?

Top 10 Remarkable Features of Pharmacy Billing Software

The pharmacy management system incorporates pharmacy billing software. Additionally, since features are the only thing that will give your company a unique edge, you should be aware of all the features of pharmacy billing software before selecting any medical shop billing software. Consequently, assist you in managing your company more efficiently. Your pharmacy management software’s features also enable you to give your clients the greatest, fastest service possible.

1. Data Backup System: Without an adequate management system, businesses must deal with large amounts of data, some of which are lost or records that are not properly obtained. To solve all of those issues, a unique system is therefore required. On the other hand, since a pharmacy or medical store is a place to get quick and reliable service, it needs a suitable data restoration system. The pharmacist can easily save and access all of the information, including the medications that are in stock, their expiration dates, human resource data, purchase, sales, and account data, among other information.
2. Holds A Complete Medicine List: Because it contains the complete list of all the medications that are available in the pharmacy, a retail pharmacy billing software system or module must have a complete medicine list module. This medicine list helps a pharmacist stay informed about all the stocks available in the store, which is why this module is on the features list. Additionally, this list assists a pharmacist in providing prompt customer service and cultivating a positive relationship with their customers. In addition to the medication’s details, the medicine list module contains the manufacturer’s name, generic name, price, image, and shelf number. A pharmacist can track the precise location of the medication on the shelf in addition to determining whether it is available while providing a service.
3. Real-Time Report Recording: In the past, people kept track of all business data, no matter how small, by recording all of their transactions in long, bulky notebooks. However, automation technology, such as the POS billing system, has gradually supplanted the business notebook since the development of some highly responsive technologies.
   As a result, the medical industry gradually embraced automation technology to provide each client with faster and better service. An entrepreneur can compute all of the expenses, revenues, and purchases made at the end of the month or year by using the real-time records of all transactions that are always kept in a business report. The owner gained the confidence to analyze the business clearly and operate it more efficiently as a result of this calculation.
4. Dynamic POS Billing Interface: This is how the pharmacy POS software is actually visualized. As we can see, a pharmacist has the option to search in the search box in addition to choosing the medication criteria from the type of medication when billing.
   Additionally, the pharmacist only needs to enter the quantity and discount when choosing the desired medication; the red box will automatically be filled in with the price and medical information. The final amount is then given to the pharmacist. My thoughts on this Pharmacare billing software are that it’s a simple, quick, and easy billing system. There is simply no complication; everything is clear and intelligible.
5. Account Management System: One of the key components of your pharmacy medical shop billing software is the pharmacy accounting system. Make sure the accounting module records have some attractive features, like all manufacturer payments, debit and credit vouchers, auto cash adjustments, etc., before you buy any pharmacy billing software. Additionally, this accounting module will automatically create the balance sheet, profit and loss account, trial balance, and general ledger cash flow for each transaction. You no longer need to manually calculate every transaction with the aid of pharmaceutical accounting software. All of the recorded transactions from the pharmacy’s daily operations will be obtained by this account module in a very structured and chronological manner.
6. Barcode Verification: Another crucial component of pharmacy billing software is barcode verification. Barcode verification allows you to perform a number of tasks across the system, including POS scanning, product dispense verification, information recovery or refilling, and more. You can scan the barcode in accordance with the accepted standards if you have a barcode verification code. A barcode scanner facilitates a quick and easy billing process. In essence, barcode verification involves scanning the barcode that is printed on the product’s packaging. In a nutshell, it is a time-saving tool for all businesses.
7. Stock Management: For a pharmacy, stock or inventory management is crucial. This feature was added to help the pharmacy business manage and organize its inventory more easily. A stock management system’s primary responsibility is to keep track of orders, supplies, and available inventory. Additionally, because of its strong automation system, it is able to record all the information, including the name of the medication, the manufacturer, the batch ID, the expiration date, the stock box, and the quantity. Additionally, stock management offers many advantages to all types of businesses. By tracking the expiration date of medications and estimating the most in-demand medications, a stock management system can notify you in advance if any inventory reaches a minimal stock.
8. Track of Damaged and Expiring Medicine: As everyone knows, medication is necessary to recover from any illness. It’s critical to maintain precise records of any damaged or expired medications. A medication may lose its effectiveness and become dangerous to take if it is damaged or expires. Therefore, those expired medications must be destroyed by a pharmacist.
   In addition to helping you run your pharmacy effectively, the Pharmacare pharmacy management system also helps you keep track of when medications expire and let the pharmacist know when they do. Stop worrying and let Pharmacare handle all of your work; they have a dedicated module for that.
9. Multi-Currency Support: Pharmacare is, in fact, the best billing software for medical stores. Multi-currency is one of the many useful features that allows each pharmacy management system user to match their currency and language; other features are accessible through the dynamic dashboard. This pharmacy management system can be accessed by users using their local currency and native language.
10. Human Resource Management: Keeping track of and recording all employee data falls under the purview of a management system when it comes to implementing one for your pharmacy. Information about daily activities, payroll, attendance, expenses, and designations, among other things. As a result, it is simple to track and monitor the accuracy of each employee’s workflow and conduct a thorough evaluation at the end of the year.

Almost 77% Of The Pharmacist Gets Success After Shifting To Automation Technology.

Many pharmacists continue to use outdated methods for billing and management systems because they think the new automation technology will be too complex and costly for them. Every transaction is still recorded in the notebook, and at the end of each month or year, each transaction is manually calculated. This blog is devoted to individuals who continue to conduct business in a traditional manner or who are looking for automation technology to improve the efficiency of their pharmacy operations. Understanding the efficacy and efficiency of implementing pharmacy billing software is made easier by this blog. I know what you’re thinking: 77%! However, let me clarify that this is merely a supposition and a gentle reminder that people are actually implementing the pharmacy management system and reaping its benefits.

Correct Time To Deploy A Pharmacy Management System

There is no right or wrong time to begin a new endeavor; in fact, the best outcomes are always obtained when you begin something “RIGHT NOW.” Are you tired of your management system’s flaws, mistakes, or foolish leaks? After a lengthy wait in a long query line, did you see the expression of annoyance on your customer’s face? Customers are complaining; is this because there isn’t enough medication in stock? Do you have issues keeping your inventory, bills, reports, records, etc. organized? Therefore, I believe that now is the ideal time for you to buy pharmacy management software.As a pharmacist, you should always understand the significance of taking medications on time. Hence a fast and flexible pharmacy management software call solve all your problem:

1. Proper pricing, billing, and payment 
2. Organized ordering management system 
3. Pharmacy POS billing software 
4. Automatic records of patients records, 
5. Stock management 

Conclusion

We can all forecast how the pharmacy industry will soon turn a profit due to its consistent growth! You must thus implement intelligent pharmacy management technology to turn your company into a seamless, quick, and safe pharmacy store if you want to improve your long-term competitiveness in the market. Pharmacare will offer the most affordable pharmacy management solution with all the necessary features and advantages. Pharmacare improves workflow accuracy and helps you achieve your business objectives more effectively.

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Drug Information Centre are defined as operational units that provide up‑to‑date scientific and technical information on medicines in an objective and timely manner. They represent an optimal strategy to address specific needs for information sought by health‑care professionals. Ideally, DICs have adequate sources and specifically qualified professionals, who provide independent and appropriate information to the queries. The users can contact the center by telephone, personally, fax, or e‑mail and their queries are answered in verbal or structured written format.

DIC services are rendered both in proactive and reactive approaches. The reactive approach is commonly followed in hospital based DICs which serve health‑care providers (doctors) by answering time‑critical questions on the safe and effective use of therapeutic and diagnostic pharmaceuticals. The sample case record form for recording the communication is presented here as a supplementary file at the end of the article. Proactively, some DICs also publish and circulate regular updates on various topics such as dosing guidance in organ impairment, interpretation of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) levels, possible drug–drug or drug– disease interactions, safety profile including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alert, adverse event linked to a drug, efficacy comparison, recent updates in treatment guidelines, new drug approvals and local availability, drug use in any special situation, important study findings in reputed journals, guidance on procuring already approved drug in other countries, and many more types of questions from available literature sources.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, RESOURCES, AND FUNCTIONING OF DRUG INFORMATION CENTER

The organizational structure of DIC can vary considerably. A survey of DICs of 18 European countries had reported that they are mainly affiliated to hospitals (68%), but rather uncommonly with state departments (15%), other health‑care organizations outside the hospital (12%), and faculty of pharmacy (6%). Similar findings were also reported in an American survey carried out on 151 DICs. Within medical institutions or universities, DICs are usually affiliated with the Department of Pharmacology/Clinical Pharmacology or Clinical Pharmacy.

The location of the DIC within the hospital has the advantage of being close to the different specialized departments, patient care areas, the hospital library, and the hospital pharmacy. Such a close proximity to different departments and service areas enable easier contacting.[16] They are usually staffed by clinical pharmacologists and pharmacists who review the queries of the clinicians, search the literature, and provide the information sought, in structured, evidence‑based manner.[17] In certain centers, the DIC is manned by faculty members and postgraduate students of pharmacy practice.[18] In some places, DICs also provide poisoning‑related information and primarily act as poison information centers.[19] The availability of qualified individuals to run the DIC is of paramount importance as they act as the first interface with the health‑care professional. Proper communication skills, literature search and appraisal skills, and knowledge about the efficacy and safety of drugs are very important in order to provide quality services to those who contact the DIC.[20]

Drug and Poison information Centres

The Poisons Information Centre (PIC) is a specialized unit providing information on prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of poisoning and hazard management. Most of the developed and many developing countries have well established poison control centres with poisons information service, patient management facility and analytical laboratory. Poison information service also deals with the risk assessment, diagnosis, management and prevention of exposure to any poison, in patients of any age irrespective of type (intentional or accidental) and route of exposure. The primary aim of PIC is to reduce the morbidity and mortality due to poisoning and improve the patient’s quality of life. In India, the National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC) was established in February, 1995 in the Department of Pharmacology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

The centre gives toxicological information and advice on the management of poisoned patients adapted to the level of the enquirer. The basis of this service is the databases on poisoning, drug reactions and also the continuous and systematic collection of data from the library.

NATURE OF INFORMATION SOUGHT FROM DRUG INFORMATION CENTER

There are many reports on the quantum and nature of inquiries received by the DIC around the world. A study from a regional DIC in Germany reported that questions concerning therapeutic use (34%), adverse drug reactions (28%), pregnancy/lactation (16%), and pharmacokinetics/dosage (15%) were asked most frequently. The major users of the DIC were internists (19%), general practitioners (19%), pediatricians (18%), and gynecologists (11%).[23] A similar pattern had been observed in a study in Slovak Republic, where questions concerning pregnancy/lactation (25%), adverse drug reactions (16%), basic information regarding drugs (14%), and interactions (13%) were frequently asked. A study in a DIC in South India reported that questions most commonly asked were regarding dosage and administration (27%), adverse reactions (24%), and drug therapy (15%).

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Queries were also asked on many occasions for other purposes such as availability/cost, drug interactions, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pregnancy and lactation, indication, content, contraindication, generics, drug profile, and poisoning. Similar trends have also been reported in various analyses conducted in Nepal, Iran, Italy, Israel, Mexico, and Finland. The nature of queries to community‑based DICs differs slightly from the hospital‑based ones. A study in Finland analyzed and described the utilization of a community pharmacy‑operated national drug information call center. Data were recorded for 2196 calls, 56% of which were drug related. The majority (83%) of these calls were therapeutic or pharmaceutical inquiries, with 26% concerning costs and reimbursements, 14% interactions, 14% dosages, and 11% related to adverse effects.

A recently published study on a Brazilian community‑based DIC managed by the Federal Council of Pharmacy reported that mostly information on drug administration, indications, drug interactions, and legislations was sought from the DIC by pharmacists and pharmacy students. The DIC in Dresden, Germany, that caters exclusively for patients has been frequently contacted for information pertaining to adverse drug reactions (22.1%), general information about prescribed drugs (19.9%), information about therapy (12.4%), and drug interactions (10.2%).

CHALLENGES IN ESTABLISHING A DRUG INFORMATION CENTER IN INDIA

Although establishment of DICs offers benefits in terms of addressing the awareness gaps of health‑care professionals and improved patient care, there are many challenges that have to be encountered while setting up these centers.

Funds and resources

In resource‑limited developing countries, the major hurdle in establishing a DIC comes in the form of constraint of funds. Establishing and running DIC services successfully requires a good supply of recurring and non-recurring budgets, as mentioned in Table 1.

Since DICs in hospital settings are affiliated to clinical pharmacology/pharmacy departments, the expenses are usually borne out of the departmental budget. Since departmental budgets in such disciplines are already low in India, the expenses may act as a deterrent to the establishment of a stand‑alone DIC.

Therefore, in addition to drug information, the DIC could also provide other value‑added services such as poison information, adverse drug reaction monitoring, and training of postgraduate students of concerned and allied disciplines to justify its budgetary requirements. For example, the National Poisons Information Centre at AIIMS, New Delhi, established in 1995 in the Department of Pharmacology under the INTOX project of the International Programme on Chemical Safety/WHO provides round‑the‑clock information on poisoning, drug reactions, and analytical services on an emergency basis to help in diagnosis and management. It also provides training to residents posted in the center.

Human resource

Providing quality drug‑related information requires employment of trained and experienced individuals in the DIC. However, there is a dearth of such individuals within academic hospitals. Annually, only 15–16 students get trained in the D.M. Clinical Pharmacology course and approximately 550 students get trained in M.D. Pharmacology. This is compounded by the fact that the same faculty has to teach dental, nursing, and other paramedical courses, leaving little time to serve in the DIC. To counter this lack of human resource, it has been suggested that there could be dual appointments of teachers from clinical specialities, public health departments, or industry in clinical pharmacology in academic institutions and increase in the number of students enrolled per teacher and in the number of departments of clinical pharmacology.

EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE OF DRUG INFORMATION CENTER

Evaluation of drug information services has been widely performed through the assessment of the processes against predetermined standard criteria, the assessment of user satisfaction, or the evaluation of clinical and economic outcomes. However, the survey of DICs carried out in the USA reported that only half of the DICs surveyed had a formal quality assurance program. The national German drug information service conducted a user’s satisfaction study and concluded that there was high satisfaction among users, based on quality, understandability, timeliness, and helpfulness regarding counseling. Response time to queries is a major determinant of user satisfaction.

In Israel, Lustig reported that the mean response time varied according to the type of query; 1 min was the lowest response time for queries regarding the availability of products and 13.5 min was the highest response time for answers to questions on drug indications and interactions. In South India, George and Rao categorized the time needed to reply into three categories: immediately, within 2–4 h, and within a day or 2 days.

A modeling study predicted that the most important workload factor predicting the time spent in handling the queries was the type of literature search that had to be performed. The categorization of queries, as judgmental or not, also affected the time spent answering the queries. However, the number of drugs involved did not seem to significantly influence the time spent in answering drug information queries.

Advantages of Poison Information resources

1. Reduction in overall cost of operation
2. Combined programs share personal, information resources, space and utility charges
3. Improved access to information services
4. Poisoning can be controlled at speed
5. It helps in providing round the clock services
6. Speedy access to literature search and evaluation skills

Disadvantage Poison Information resources

The prime disadvantage is a single staff is involved that can place pressure on the poison information provider.

FULL PDF >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> CLICK HERE

REFERENCES

1. Diaz JA, Griffith RA, Ng JJ, Reinert SE, Friedmann PD, Moulton AW, et al. Patients’ use of the internet for medical information. J Gen Intern Med 2002;17:180‑5.
2. Ioannidis JP. Why most clinical research is not useful. PLoS Med 2016;13:e1002049.
3. Nikalje AP. Nanotechnology and its applications in medicine. Med Chem 2015;5:81‑9.
4. Alper BS, Hand JA, Elliott SG, Kinkade S, Hauan MJ, Onion DK, et al. How much effort is needed to keep up with the literature relevant for primary care? J Med Libr Assoc 2004;92:429‑37.
5. Pradhan SC. The performance of drug information center at the university of Kansas medical center Kansas city, USA‑experiences and evaluation. Indian J Pharmacol 2002;34:123‑9.
6. Drug Information Association; 2017. Available from: http://www.diaglobal.org/en/about‑us. [Last accessed on 2017 Mar 03].
7. Walton CA. Education and training of the drug information specialist Ann Pharmacother 2006;40:311‑5.
8. The Rational Use of Drugs: Report of the Conference of Experts, Nairobi, 1985. World Health Organisation; 2017. Available from: http://www.apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s17054e/s17054e.pdf. [Last accessed on 2017 Mar 03].
9. Chauhan N, Moin S, Pandey A, Mittal A, Bajaj U. Indian aspects of drug information resources and impact of drug information centre on community. J Adv Pharm Technol Res 2013;4:84‑93.
10. Escalante‑Saavedra PA, Marques‑Batista G, Maniero HK, Bedatt‑Silva R, Calvo‑Barbado DM. Brazilian drug information centre: Descriptive study on the quality of information 2010‑2015. Farm Hosp 2017;41:334‑45.
11. Fathelrahman AI, Awang R, Bashir AA, Taha IA, Ibrahim HM. User satisfaction with services provided by a drug information center in Sudan. Pharm World Sci 2008;30:759‑63.
12. Guidance Document on Common Submission Format for Import and Registration of Bulk Drugs and Finished Formulations in India. CDSCO; 2017. Available from: http://www.cdsco.nic.in/writereaddata/Guidance%20documents.pdf. [Last accessed on 2017 Mar 03].

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1. Attempt all parts.
2. Students are advised to specially check the Numerical Data of Question paper in both versions. If there is any difference in Hindi Translation of any question, the students should answer according to the English version.
3. Use of Paper and Mobile Phone by the students is not allowed.

PART-A

Answer any six questions. Each questions carries equal marks. [6×5=30]

1. Explain the role of Community Pharmacist?
2. Describe different part of Prescriptions?
3. What do you mean by verbal communication? Give Advantage and Disadvantage of Verbal Communication.
4. Describe various stages involved in patient counselling?
5. Discuss various strategies to overcome medication non adherence?
6. What is procurement? Explain process of procument.

PART-B

Answer any ten questions. Each questions carries equal marks. [10×3=30]

1. Write a note on handling of the prescription.
2. Write a note on body language is a type of communication.
3. Define patient information leaflet. Give importance of patient information leaflet.
4. Write in brief counselling point for Tuberculosis.
5. Define health screening services. Give scope of health screening services.
6. Write a brief note on OTC medication in India.
7. Give the symptoms and advice for self care in skin disorders.
8. What are various types of community pharmacy?
9. Write in short about the pharmacy design and interiors.
10. Define financial planning. Give importance of financial planning.
11. Give the standard operating procedure for dispensing of medicines.

PART-C

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Answer all questions. Each questions carries equal marks. [20×1=20]

1. The history of community pharmacy in India start with opening of chemist shop in _____
   • a) 1811
   • b) 1812
   • c) 1813
   • d) 1814
2. The preparation of SOPs in pharmacy is responsibility of ______
   • a) Staff nurse
   • b) Physician
   • c) Pharmacist
   • d) None
3. The part of prescription called subsription contains direction to the _____
   • a) Physcian
   • b) Pharmacist
   • c) Staff nurse
   • d) None
4. Communication is a part of _______
   • a) hard
   • b)soft
   • c) rough
   • d) short
5. Email and websites are the type of ______ Communication.
   • Oral/Written
6. Patient Counselling is a _______ process.
   • Unidirectional/bidirectional
7. A faithful adherence by the patient to the prescriber instruction is called ______.
   • Patient compliance/ Patient non compliance
8. Sphygmomanometer is used to measure ______.
   • Blood Pressure/ Blood glucose level
9. Mammogram is look for early sign of ______.
   • Breast cancer/ Blood pressure.
10. ________ is the disorder in which stools become hard, dry and difficult to pass from the bowel.
    • Constipation/ Diarrheas
11. _______ mean study of causes and development of disease.
    • Etiology/ Etiopathogenesis
12. ______ means process of vomitting.
    • Emesis/ Nausea
13. OTC are ____ drugs.
    • Prescription/ Non-Prescription
14. The amount contributes by proprietor or partner in the business is known as ______.
    • Capital/ Asset
15. In VED analysis method. E stands for _______
    • Essential/ Economic
16. Minimum space required for retail drug store is ________.
    • a) 100m²
    • b) 50m²
    • c) 10m²
    • d) 20m²
17. Minimum practical training required for registration of pharmacist is not less than _____
    • a) 100 hours
    • b) 200 hours
    • c) 500 hours
    • d) None
18. Arogya Setu app is launched by government of India during the fight against ___
    • a) T.B
    • b) Pollio
    • c) Covid-19
    • d) Leprosy
19. Online pharmacy is also known as _______
    • Drug store/ Web drug store
20. Petty cash book of account which records ______ amount.
    • Major/ Minor

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HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system by destroying white blood cells called CD4 cells. This weakens the immune system, making it easier to get sick with other infections and diseases.

HIV is spread through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids, such as blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal fluids. It can be transmitted through:

• Unprotected sex: That is, sex without condoms, or other forms of barrier protection with someone who has HIV. (Unprotected oral sex is extremely low risk for the transmission of HIV.).
• Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment used to prepare drugs
• Being born to an infected mother: This can happen when a mother doesn’t know she has HIV, or is not on effective HIV treatment.

HIV can be prevented and treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). People who take ART as prescribed can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners. Here are some other facts about HIV:

1. HIV is not spread by kisses, hugs, or sharing food.
2. HIV is a fragile virus that doesn’t survive outside the body for long.
3. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is more virulent and infective than HIV-2.
4. HIV can remain dormant in the body for up to ten years after primary infection.
5. If left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Protect Yourshelf from HIV in Hospital

To prevent the spread of HIV, hospitals follow strict infection prevention and control guidelines. All blood and body fluids from patients are treated as potentially infectious:

Syringes and needles are ‘single use’ and disposed of in approved sharps containers. Re-usable medical devices are decontaminated and sterilised after each patient use. Many medical devices are disposed of after single use. Healthcare workers wear protective equipment (including gowns, gloves and eyewear) when carrying out any invasive procedures involving a patient’s blood or body fluids. All spilt blood and body fluids are cleaned up according to strict cleaning guidelines.

Hospital workers can become infected with HIV if they accidentally prick themselves with a needle or other sharp instrument contaminated with the virus. However, only a very small number of hospital workers around the world have become infected with HIV in this way. Preventive treatment (called post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP) is available for healthcare workers who have accidentally pricked themselves with a needle or other sharp instrument contaminated with HIV. Their health will be monitored closely.

If you are exposed to HIV in the workplace, you might need repeated HIV testing. There is a brief “window period” after exposure during which your body is developing HIV antibodies to attack the virus. You may experience flu-like symptoms, such as fever, aches, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.

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What is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a general term for liver inflammation caused by a variety of viruses, chemicals, drugs, alcohol, genetics, or an overactive immune system. It can be a short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) infection.

There are five main types of hepatitis, A, B, C, D, and E, each with different modes of transmission, severity, and prevention methods. Some types of hepatitis can be treated without serious problems, while others can cause chronic liver disease, liver cancer, and death.

Here are some types of hepatitis and how they are spread: Hepatitis A Spread through contaminated food or water, or through oral-anal sex.

Hepatitis A is not usually chronic, but it can cause debilitating symptoms and rarely fulminant hepatitis, which is often fatal. Practice good personal hygiene, such as washing hands before meals and after using the bathroom. Also, make sure you have safe drinking water and proper sewage disposal in your community. Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat and fish, and in developing countries, avoid eating raw fruits and vegetables that you can’t peel yourself. The CDC recommends that children ages 12–23 months and children and adolescents 2–18 years old who haven’t been vaccinated before get the hepatitis A vaccine.

Hepatitis B Can be passed to a baby during birth. Symptoms include abdominal pain, dark urine, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, upset stomach, vomiting, weakness, and jaundice. Get vaccinated as soon as possible after birth, and then get two or three more doses at least four weeks apart. The vaccine is safe and effective for almost everyone, and it protects against hepatitis B for at least 20 years

Hepatitis C Spread through infected blood, often by sharing needles or other items used to inject drugs. It can also be passed from a mother to her child at birth, or in rare cases, through unprotected sex. Avoid behaviors that can spread the disease.

Protect Yourself from Hepatitis in Hospital

Prevention is always better than cure, especially where an organ as vital as your liver is concerned. Here are some tips to help avoid unnecessary transmission of the disease in its various forms:

1. Practise good hygiene and avoid consuming the local water, ice, undercooked shellfish and raw fruit and vegetables when travelling in developing countries.
2. Avoid sharing needles, razors or toothbrushes. Do not touch spilled blood. Practise safe sex by using condoms.
3. Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.

If you suspect you may have hepatitis, consult a gastroenterologist for an accurate diagnosis of your condition and the available treatment options.

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