[afro-nets] Role of African pharmacists in the control of AIDS (2)

[Billy Futter <B.Futter@ru.ac.za>]

Role of African pharmacists in the control of AIDS (2)
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I would also be very interested in encouraging discussion on
this topic. My particular perspective is to find out what ten-
sion there are between the perceived or ideal role of pharma-
cists and the reality of what pharmacists can or are allowed to
do.

Politicians are allowed to pontificate about what should happen
- health workers have to make it happen. In South Africa, we are
really battling to get our ARV role-out happening because we
just do not have the numbers of trained people to make sure that
it happens properly. Even if one were to focus on the role of
pharmacists as supervisors of pharmacist's assistants, (or phar-
macy technicians), shortages of both are a serious problem.

With the imperative of the politicians to suddenly make things
happen, my concern is that we will sacrifice quality ARV pharma-
ceutical care. What do you think?

Billy Futter
mailto:B.Futter@ru.ac.za