INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL PHARMACY
PREPARED BY MR. ABHIJIT DAS
DEFINITION
Social pharmacy is the study of how society and human behaviour
affect the use of medicines and the role of pharmacists in healthcare.
ROLE
OF PHARMACIST IN PUBLIC HEALTH
1. Providing
Medications: Ensuring people take their medicines
correctly.
2. Health
Advice: Giving tips on staying healthy and preventing
diseases.
3. Vaccinations:
Giving vaccines to protect against illnesses.
4. Health
Checks: Checking for conditions like high blood pressure and
diabetes.
5. Emergency
Response: Assisting in emergencies and natural disasters.
6. Preventing
Drug Abuse: Educating about the dangers of drug misuse.
7. Public
Health Campaigns: Participating in community health
initiatives.
DEFINITION
OF HEALTH
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as
"a state of complete physical, mental, and
social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
This definition emphasizes that health is not just about not being sick, but
also about being in a good state physically, mentally, and socially.
VARIOUS
DIMENTIONS OF HEALTH
Ø Physical
Health:
- How
well your body is working.
- Important
things: Eating healthy food, exercising, getting enough sleep, and not
being sick.
- Examples:
Having lots of energy, not feeling tired, and not getting sick often.
Ø Mental
Health:
- How
you feel and think.
- Important
things: Handling stress, feeling good about yourself, and staying happy.
- Examples:
Feeling calm, not being sad or worried a lot, and being able to
concentrate in school.
Ø Social
Health:
- How
you get along with other people.
- Important
things: Making friends, talking to others, and being part of a group.
- Examples:
Having good friends, talking nicely with others, and playing well in a
team.
Ø Emotional
Health:
- How
you understand and handle your feelings.
- Important
things: Knowing how you feel, controlling your emotions, and dealing with
problems.
- Examples:
Staying calm when you're angry, feeling happy most of the time, and not
being scared easily.
Ø Spiritual
Health:
- Feeling
connected to something bigger than yourself.
- Important
things: Believing in something, praying or meditating, and feeling
peaceful.
- Examples:
Feeling good about helping others, praying, or thinking about the meaning
of life.
Ø Environmental
Health:
- How
your surroundings affect you.
- Important
things: Clean air and water, safe places to live, and a healthy
environment.
- Examples:
Living in a clean house, not littering, and planting trees.
Ø Intellectual
Health:
- How
you use your brain.
- Important
things: Learning new things, solving problems, and being curious.
- Examples:
Reading books, doing puzzles, and asking questions about the world.
HEALTH
DETERMINANTS
Health determinants are the factors
that affect a person's health.
· Genetics:
Inherited traits from family members can influence health outcomes and disease
risks.
· Lifestyle:
Daily choices like diet, exercise, and sleep patterns impact overall health and
disease prevention.
· Environment:
Air quality, access to clean water, and living conditions affect physical
health and well-being.
· Access
to Healthcare: Availability of medical services
influences timely treatment and preventive care.
· Socioeconomic
Status: Income, education, and job type can affect access to
resources and health outcomes.
· Social
Support: Relationships with family and friends provide
emotional support and influence mental well-being.
HEALTH
INDICATORS
· Life
Expectancy: Average number of years a person is expected to
live.
· Infant
Mortality Rate: Number of deaths of infants under one
year old per 1,000 live births.
· Maternal
Mortality Rate: Number of maternal deaths per 100,000
live births.
· Prevalence
of Chronic Diseases: Proportion of the population affected by
chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer.
· Healthcare
Access and Utilization: Measures such as percentage of
population with health insurance coverage or regular access to medical care.
· Sanitation
Indicator: sanitation indicator is the availability of toilets
that safely separate human waste from contact with people, crucial for
preventing diseases and promoting health.
NATIONAL
HEALTH POLICY OF INDIA
India's National Health Policy aims to ensure
accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services for all citizens across
the country.
Key features include:
Ø Universal
Health Coverage: Ensuring all individuals and communities
receive the healthcare they need without financial hardship.
Ø Health
Infrastructure: Enhancing healthcare facilities,
including hospitals, clinics, and medical colleges, especially in rural and
underserved areas.
Ø Preventive
Healthcare: Emphasizing disease prevention, health education,
and promotion of healthy lifestyles to reduce the burden of illness.
Ø Maternal
and Child Health: Improving maternal and child healthcare
services, focusing on reducing maternal mortality, infant mortality, and
malnutrition.
Ø Infectious
Diseases: Strengthening efforts to control infectious diseases
like tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS through prevention, diagnosis, and
treatment programs.
Ø Traditional
Medicine: Integrating traditional and modern medicine systems
to provide comprehensive healthcare options.
Ø Health Financing: Implementing strategies to ensure sustainable funding for healthcare services, including public and private sector partnerships.
MILLENNIUM
DEVELOPMENT GOALS
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were eight
international development goals established in 2000
by the United Nations, aimed at
addressing global challenges by 2015. They
were:
1.
Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger:
Reduce the proportion of
people living on less than $1.25 a day and those suffering from hunger by 50%.
2.
Achieve Universal Primary Education:
Ensure that all children complete a full course of primary schooling.
3.
Promote Gender Equality and Empower
Women: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary
education, preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015.
4.
Reduce Child Mortality:
Reduce the under-five mortality rate.
5.
Improve Maternal Health:
Reduce the maternal mortality ratio.
6.
Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Other
Diseases: Start to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria,
and other major diseases.
7.
Ensure Environmental Sustainability:
Protect the environment by providing access to clean water and sanitation, and
improve living conditions for people in slums.
8. Develop a Global Partnership for Development: Work together globally to help the poorest countries, provide affordable medicines, and make new technologies available to everyone.
"Image courtesy of the United Nations"
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT GOALS
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015.
They aim to tackle various issues by 2030.
Here are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
1.
No Poverty: End poverty everywhere.
2.
Zero Hunger: End hunger and improve food
security.
3.
Good Health and Well-being: Ensure
everyone is healthy and well.
4.
Quality Education: Ensure everyone has
access to good education.
5.
Gender Equality: Achieve equality between
men and women.
6.
Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure
everyone has clean water and toilets.
7.
Affordable and Clean Energy: Use clean and
affordable energy.
8.
Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote
jobs and economic growth for all.
9.
Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure:
Build strong infrastructure and encourage innovation.
10.
Reduced Inequality: Reduce inequalities
within and among countries.
11.
Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make
cities safe, resilient, and sustainable.
12.
Responsible Consumption and Production:
Use resources responsibly and reduce waste.
13.
Climate Action: Take urgent action to
combat climate change.
14.
Life Below Water: Protect oceans and
marine life.
15.
Life on Land: Protect forests and
biodiversity, and prevent land degradation.
16.
Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions:
Promote peace, justice, and effective institutions.
17.
Partnerships for the Goals: Work together
to achieve the goals through partnerships.
"Image courtesy of the United Nations"
FIP
DEVELOPMENT GOALS
The FIP Development Goals are global objectives set by
the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
to improve pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences worldwide. They focus
on:
1.
Education and Training:
Making sure pharmacists receive the best education and training.
2.
Practice and Services:
Promoting the role of pharmacists in providing accessible and high-quality
healthcare services.
3.
Research and Innovation:
Encouraging new ideas and research in medicines.
4.
Global Health:
Working together to solve health problems around the world.
5.
Professional Development:
Supporting pharmacists in their careers and leadership roles.
