Roles and reimbursement of pharmacists as South Africa transitions towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): An online survey-based study.

<h4>Background</h4>The implementation of Universal Health Coverage in SA has sought to focus on promoting affordable health care services that are accessible to all citizens. In this regard, pharmacists are expected to play a pivotal function in the revitalization of primary health care...

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Autores principales:	Vivian Naidoo, Fatima Suleman, Varsha Bangalee
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/0d63861d06254b41a082b0904efaa5a6
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:0d63861d06254b41a082b0904efaa5a62021-12-02T20:06:10ZRoles and reimbursement of pharmacists as South Africa transitions towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): An online survey-based study.1932-620310.1371/journal.pone.0257348https://doaj.org/article/0d63861d06254b41a082b0904efaa5a62021-01-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257348https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203<h4>Background</h4>The implementation of Universal Health Coverage in SA has sought to focus on promoting affordable health care services that are accessible to all citizens. In this regard, pharmacists are expected to play a pivotal function in the revitalization of primary health care (PHC) during this transition by the expansion of their practice roles.<h4>Objectives</h4>To assess the readiness and perceptions of pharmacists to expand their roles in an integrated health care system. To determine the availability and pricing of primary health care services currently provided within a community pharmacy environment and to evaluate suitable reimbursement for the provision of such services by a community pharmacist.<h4>Methods</h4>Community pharmacists' across SA were invited to participate in an online survey-based study. The survey consisted of both open- and closed-ended questions. Descriptive statistics for closed-ended questions were generated and analysed using Microsoft Excel® and Survey Monkey®. Responses for the open-ended questions were transcribed, analysed, and reported as emerging themes.<h4>Results</h4>Six hundred and sixty-four pharmacists' responded to the online survey. Seventy-five percent of pharmacists' reported that with appropriate training, a transition into a more patient-centered role might be beneficial in the re-engineering of the PHC system. However, in order to adopt these new roles, appropriate reimbursement structures are required. The current fee levied by pharmacists in community pharmacies that offered these PHC services was found to be lower to that recommended by the South African Pharmacy Council; this disparity is primarily due to a lack of information and policy standardisation. Therefore, in order to ensure that fees levied are fair, comprehensive service package guidelines are required.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study provides baseline data for policy makers on pharmacists' readiness to transition into expanded roles. Furthermore, it can be used as a foundation to establish appropriate reimbursement frameworks for pharmacists providing PHC services.Vivian NaidooFatima SulemanVarsha BangaleePublic Library of Science (PLoS)articleMedicineRScienceQENPLoS ONE, Vol 16, Iss 9, p e0257348 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Vivian Naidoo Fatima Suleman Varsha Bangalee Roles and reimbursement of pharmacists as South Africa transitions towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): An online survey-based study.
description	<h4>Background</h4>The implementation of Universal Health Coverage in SA has sought to focus on promoting affordable health care services that are accessible to all citizens. In this regard, pharmacists are expected to play a pivotal function in the revitalization of primary health care (PHC) during this transition by the expansion of their practice roles.<h4>Objectives</h4>To assess the readiness and perceptions of pharmacists to expand their roles in an integrated health care system. To determine the availability and pricing of primary health care services currently provided within a community pharmacy environment and to evaluate suitable reimbursement for the provision of such services by a community pharmacist.<h4>Methods</h4>Community pharmacists' across SA were invited to participate in an online survey-based study. The survey consisted of both open- and closed-ended questions. Descriptive statistics for closed-ended questions were generated and analysed using Microsoft Excel® and Survey Monkey®. Responses for the open-ended questions were transcribed, analysed, and reported as emerging themes.<h4>Results</h4>Six hundred and sixty-four pharmacists' responded to the online survey. Seventy-five percent of pharmacists' reported that with appropriate training, a transition into a more patient-centered role might be beneficial in the re-engineering of the PHC system. However, in order to adopt these new roles, appropriate reimbursement structures are required. The current fee levied by pharmacists in community pharmacies that offered these PHC services was found to be lower to that recommended by the South African Pharmacy Council; this disparity is primarily due to a lack of information and policy standardisation. Therefore, in order to ensure that fees levied are fair, comprehensive service package guidelines are required.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study provides baseline data for policy makers on pharmacists' readiness to transition into expanded roles. Furthermore, it can be used as a foundation to establish appropriate reimbursement frameworks for pharmacists providing PHC services.
format	article
author	Vivian Naidoo Fatima Suleman Varsha Bangalee
author_facet	Vivian Naidoo Fatima Suleman Varsha Bangalee
author_sort	Vivian Naidoo
title	Roles and reimbursement of pharmacists as South Africa transitions towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): An online survey-based study.
title_short	Roles and reimbursement of pharmacists as South Africa transitions towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): An online survey-based study.
title_full	Roles and reimbursement of pharmacists as South Africa transitions towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): An online survey-based study.
title_fullStr	Roles and reimbursement of pharmacists as South Africa transitions towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): An online survey-based study.
title_full_unstemmed	Roles and reimbursement of pharmacists as South Africa transitions towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): An online survey-based study.
title_sort	roles and reimbursement of pharmacists as south africa transitions towards universal health coverage (uhc): an online survey-based study.
publisher	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/0d63861d06254b41a082b0904efaa5a6
work_keys_str_mv	AT viviannaidoo rolesandreimbursementofpharmacistsassouthafricatransitionstowardsuniversalhealthcoverageuhcanonlinesurveybasedstudy AT fatimasuleman rolesandreimbursementofpharmacistsassouthafricatransitionstowardsuniversalhealthcoverageuhcanonlinesurveybasedstudy AT varshabangalee rolesandreimbursementofpharmacistsassouthafricatransitionstowardsuniversalhealthcoverageuhcanonlinesurveybasedstudy
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Roles and reimbursement of pharmacists as South Africa transitions towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): An online survey-based study.

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