Availability of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals and the Role of Pharmacists in Health-Care Delivery Services to Animal Patients in Plateau State.

Abstract

The purpose of this survey was to gain insight on the availability of veterinary pharmaceuticals in pharmacies in Northern Nigeria using Plateau as a case study and to assess the current role of pharmacists in the healthcare delivery system of animal patients. Questionnaires were used to study the availability of veterinary medicines in pharmacy shops and to also understand the current professional involvement of community pharmacists in ensuring that veterinary medicines are of optimum benefit to animals and animal owners. It was found that community pharmacies rarely sell or distribute veterinary pharmaceuticals and the expertise of the pharmacists was not utilized in the healthcare delivery of animal patients due to ignorance and naivety. None of the pharmacies and the pharmacists interviewed had plans to get involved in this vital aspect of healthcare delivery service in the near future. The involvement of the appropriately trained expert on drugs would be of immense benefit to the healthcare delivery system and pharmacists are best suited for this by their training. Pharmacist could collaborate with the veterinarians in order to develop a safe, effective and complete plan for animals. The work suggested that the involvement of a pharmacist at the point of supply increased the possibility of animal owners understanding the proper use(s) and handling of these drugs and pharmacists’ input may help prevent unwise, incorrect or indiscriminate use of medicines in animals.