Unique patient safety initiative launched for Greek pharmacists
Aegate, the pharmaceutical authentication company, announces today the launch of its unique patient safety initiative for Greek pharmacies.
Pharmacists are provided with real-time relevant product safety information about the specific pack being dispensed, which ensures that patients do not inadvertently receive substandard products. This will be on view for the first time in Greece later this week at the Pharmapoint conference in Thessalonki taking place 19-21 October.
Already available to 70 per cent of pharmacies in Belgium since 2006 and with early tests started in Italy, Aegate's Europe-wide solution is supported by many professional organisations. In Belgium the pharmacy association representing more than 90 per cent of pharmacies endorses this initiative as best practice for pharmacies.
Aegate's patient safety initiative supports pharmacists and pharmaceutical manufacturers in the authentication of medicines at the point of dispensing. It does so via a direct, two-way communications network linking the pharmaceutical manufacturer and the pharmacist. This network acts as a protective mechanism by providing patient safety messages direct to pharmacists at the time when they are interacting with the product. This additional layer of security also supports pharmacists by providing additional information to aid dispensing decisions, helping them to manage critical issues such as counterfeit medicines, expiry date notification and product recalls.
Commenting on the launch in Greece Petros Kotzamanis, a pharmacist who is using Aegate says:
" I find the information about the recalls and expiry dates very useful: it supports the existing information channels and increases trust and confidence when dispensing products".
Gary Noon, CEO of Aegate, concludes:
"In a busy pharmacy, where one pack looks the same as another, it is almost impossible to detect medicines that perhaps are not suitable for dispensing. The Aegate service helps pharmacies to confidently assure themselves and their patients that sub standard packs are not being dispensed to patients."
The direct communications channel also provides pharmacists with real-time information about the medicine being dispensed, giving patients the maximum benefit from their prescribed treatment and providing pharmacists with the information they need to give the best possible advice at the point of dispensing.
