Community Pharmacy

Pharmacy Layout Design

 DEFINITION
• 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,
skills and competence to deliver professional service to
the community.
 Importance of Community
Pharmacy
• Community pharmacists are the health professionals most
accessible to the public.
• They supply medicines in accordance with a prescription or,
when legally permitted, sell them without a prescription.
• In addition to ensuring an accurate supply of appropriate
products, their professional activities also cover counseling of
patients at the time of dispensing of prescription and non-
prescription drugs, drug information to health professionals,
patients and the general public, and participation in health-
promotion programmes.
• They maintain links with other health professionals in primary
health care.
 SCOPE OF COMMUNITY
PHARMACY

• Steep rise in the field of medical and health services

due to introduction of various latest techniques and
globalization of medical profession.
• Population of whole world is rising tremendously day
by day, medical and health services are insufficient for
overall improvement of health status.
• There is a requirement of equal participation of all
health professionals to obtain a common goal of
disease prevention and health promotion
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
•OWNERSHIP
•A community pharmacy should be legally incorporated, complying
with current government policy and relevant legislations.

•The community pharmacist should:

have full management control of the pharmacy practice
have significant representation in executive board and possess
share equity
inform any changes in shareholding to the Licensing Officer
and/or any other relevant authorities
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
•PREMISES
Location; The premises are located within the management of
the Local Council, where appropriate.
Pharmacies need to comply with the Local Authority laws.

The pharmacy premise cannot be shared with any other

businesses (including Multi-Level Marketing business).
Under certain circumstances where sharing of premise is
unavoidable, the following conditions must be complied with:
 Full separation with no access allowed between the different
businesses in the same premises
 Should have different access points and clear signage
Different business entities
Each premise has its own staff
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines

•For a pharmacy in a shop lot: A new pharmacy should be located

at least 300 meter radius from an existing pharmacy outlet.
For a pharmacy within a facility/shopping complex/ business
center/ multistory building: 1 outlet for every 200,000 square feet
rentable space.
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Medicine Dispensing Area (MDA)

The MDA should:

be a minimum of 18 square meter (193 sq. ft) and consist of :
Prescription counter
Counseling area
Medicines preparation area (dry and wet compounding)
Screening tests area (should be separate)
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Signboard & Advertisement
Pharmacy signboard must project the professional image of a
pharmacy.
No advertisement is permitted in any pharmacy signboard. This
applies to signboards of both existing and new pharmacy
businesses. Any posters or products advertisements displayed to
public must be in accordance with the relevant
legislations/guidelines.

The types of services offered should be displayed clearly inside

the premises. E.g. Blood Glucose Test, Urine Pregnancy Test,
Electronic blood pressure monitoring etc.
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Notice of the pharmacist(s) on duty to be displayed must
include:
•Name of pharmacist(s)
•Time and date/day of duty
•Photo (optional)

Certificates of Registration and Annual Retention for the

pharmacist incharge should also be displayed clearly.

No Smoking signs must be displayed prominently.

Designated areas are indicated clearly, such as “Prescription

Counter.”
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
•Facilities
•Drugs and merchandises should be displayed in a neat and tidy
manner thus projecting a professional image.

•Medicine Dispensing Area/ Prescription Counter

•Preferably without any barrier to facilitate patient counseling and
for more effective communication.
•Enable safe and efficient workflow.
•Pharmacist should be able to maintain a direct supervision of the
pharmacy and staff from this area.
•Size and organization of this area should be adequate for the
volume of work.
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
•Counseling area must be a properly designated area, private and comfortable. If it
is a room, the door should be made of half glass .

• Waiting area must be comfortable with adequate space for customers.

•Lighting and ventilation: Ensure adequate lighting to reduce risk of medication

errors. Bright white fluorescent lights are preferred to filament.

•Noise level: acceptable noise level - may have soft background music. Air-
conditioner with scheduled maintenance to ensure the stability of medicines and for
the comfort of staff and customers.

•Refrigerator: Should be maintained at temperature between 2 – 8oC. Daily

temperature reading must be recorded and verified. Do not store food or drinks in
the refrigerator used for the storage of medicines.

•Cleanliness: There should be appropriate pest control measure.

Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Medicines Preparation Area (Wet Compounding Area: Extrm
preparation)

 A designated area with sink and water supply. Should be away

from food and drinks.
All working surfaces and shelves should have a smooth
impervious surface and washable material finishing.

Wet compounding area must be equipped with the following, if

applicable:
Weighing scale, Mortar and pestle, Tile/glass slabs with spatula,
Measuring appliances etc
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Dry Compounding Area
A designated area for counting tablets/ capsules, filling and
packing of medicines. Also for labeling the prepared medicines.
Should be away from food and drinks.
Provide suitable and hygienic means of counting
tablets/capsules (e.g. counting tray).

Health Screening Area

Equipped with appropriate equipment and devices.
Equipment and devices in reliable conditions at all times.
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Equipment
•Computerized system (where available) preferably with the following functions:
Pharmacy Information Software
Inventory/Stock keeping
Printing of labels
Printing of customer information leaflet
Keeping patient medication record
Itemized billing with GST function
Appropriate drug naming system

•Printer (where available) preferably with the following functions:

For the production of labels, leaflets or any printed materials.

•Cabinets
 For the storage of documents/ records.
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
•Labels
Appropriate sizes and shapes
Preferably printed to prevent/ minimize errors due to illegible
handwriting

•Other Requirements (optional)

Entrance should be accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Pantry area for staff.
Adequate toilet facilities, clean and in good condition.
Arrangement must be made for the regular collection and safe
disposal of pharmaceutical waste and other refuse.
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Occupational and safety requirements:
•The premises should be safe for the public and staff working in
the pharmacy.

•Must comply with all statutory requirements where appropriate:

•Appropriate fire escape way
•Fire alarm
•Fire extinguisher
•Occupier’s insurance
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
References
•The following references should be available:
•British National Formulary or Australian Formulary
•Code of Conduct for Pharmacist and Bodies Corporate
•All relevant pharmacy legislations.

•Optional:
•Martindale
•MIMS
•References for herbal medicines
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Essential services
Screening of prescription(s)
Dispensing of medicines
Compounding of medicines (patient specific)
Counseling and advisory
Monitoring and screening tests
Pharmacy management in drug procurement
Proper documentation
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Optional Services
Medication review and accredited pharmacy services including:
Home Medication Review (HMR)
Medication Therapy Adherence Clinic (MTAC)
Certified Smoking Cessation Service Provider (CSCSP)
Weight management
Health screening
Any other certified pharmaceutical care service
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Type of products
70% of the merchandise in a community pharmacy should
consist of registered pharmaceutical products, health and
nutritional products, surgical and medical devices, personal care
and rehabilitation aids.

Sale of goods and food which is harmful to health is strictly

prohibited.

Nonpharmacy products, e.g gift items, cards and drinks, should

be minimized.
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Pharmacists
Registered with the Pakistan Pharmacy Council
Dress code
Pharmacist Tunic (White Coat)
Must project a professional image
Name tag must have the word “Pharmacist”
Ratio of pharmacist to prescription should not exceed 80 to 100
prescriptions per pharmacist per day
Notice and photograph of the pharmacist on duty must be
displayed with the duty hours
The pharmacist in a new community pharmacy has to possess
at least 4 years working experience as a pharmacist.
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Pharmacy Assistants
Diploma in Pharmacy are preferred
Structured training
Suitable number
The role of the pharmacy assistants are to help in the
preparation of medicines to be dispensed. They are not allowed to
dispense scheduled poisons without a pharmacist.
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Storage of medicines
All medicines must comply with labeling requirements and
should be kept in the original packaging or properly labeled
containers.
Separate storage should be provided for internal and external
medicines. Medicines with similar names and packaging should
be distinctively separated to prevent dispensing errors.

 Poison / Psychotropic Substances items should be kept in a

locked cabinet to prevent access to customers and unauthorized
personnel. All keys must be kept by the pharmacist. Storage
conditions must comply with manufacturer instructions and cold
chain requirements where relevant..
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines

Secure locks on main door and grille/gate.

Secure locks on back doors and grille/gate if applicable.
Electronically controlled locks may be utilized.
Additional safety control such as video cameras and alarm
system are advisable.
Policy for appropriate security should be arranged.
To comply with relevant statutory requirements.
To comply with Good Dispensing Practice.
Community Pharmacy Benchmarking
Guidelines
Record
Records and documentations should be kept and updated
systematically as stipulated by the law.
Operating Hours
Minimum 40 hours/week with pharmacist.
Awareness of Original and Counterfeit drugs, OTC and herbal
supplements
Pharmacist should only buy medicines from legitimate sources
Pharmacies must be equipped with the Meditag reader in order
to ascertain if a product is genuine and registered with the
competent authority.
Pharmacists must be aware of the latest information on de-
registered products, products found containing adulterated
ingredients, changes to product information and safety issues.
Thank you