Role of hospital clinical pharmacist in transplantation, and generic immunosuppressive therapies
Journal Title: Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal - Year 2014, Vol 3, Issue 2
Abstract
The pharmacist is an important patient advocate in the transplant multidisciplinary team and can support patients in their medication taking to improve medication adherence. Medicine optimization and patient information are also vital to this aim. For more than 20 years patients transplanted at our institution have undergone a structured post-operative self-medication training programme so that at discharge they are familiar with all their new transplant medications. During 2010–2011 certain National Health Service drivers encouraged UK hospitals to seek and use best value immunosuppressive products in order to generate efficiency savings that could be reinvested back into clinical services to further improve patient care. This led our hospital to a) switch patients to generic mycophenolate mofetil and then b) commence a supervised controlled switch programme for established transplant recipients on Prograf-tacrolimus to be converted to Adoport-tacrolimus. In our experience, use of generic immunosuppressants in a controlled environment, to avoid inadvertent tacrolimus brand switching, is a safe process. Patient education and awareness is also paramount.
Authors and Affiliations
Andrea Devaney
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP354456
- DOI 10.5639/gabij.2014.0302.023
- Views 112
- Downloads 0
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