An Analysis of the Changes in Community Pharmacy Operation after the Implementation of the Separation Policy of Drug Prescription and Dispensing

의약분업 이후 약국의 운영현황 분석

It has been 2 years since the implementation of the separation policy of drug prescription and dispensing. This study analyzes the changes in community pharmacy operation after the implementation of the policy. The main purposes of the analysis are to determine whether the changes in community pharmacy operation have occurred and to evaluate that the changes are consistent with the intention of the policy, if the changes actually have occurred. For the study a survey on 961 pharmacies chosen by stratified sampling method has been performed. Of the 961 sample pharmacies, 438 pharmacies were responded resulting 45.6% response rate. The sample pharmacies are classified by the location that the pharmacy are operating: the pharmacies around large size hospitals, the pharmacies around clinics or medium to small size hospitals and the pharmacies with no hospitals or clinics around. Based on the classification, the number of pharmacies, number of prescriptions processed, the personnel structure, the changes in facility, and other operational characteristics are compared. The results showed that the pharmacies were tended to concentrate around hospitals and clinic since the implementation of the policy. The number of pharmacists per pharmacy was increased, the size of pharmacy was increased and the facilities were improved to accomodate the requirements of the policy. The work hours a pharmacist spent on dispensing drug have increased almost twice, however, there was no corresponding increase in the time spent on patient education and medication history management, indicating a problem in the provision of quality pharmaceutical services. Based on the results, suggestions to minimize the negative effects of the policy are provided.