SVGPA donates $40,000 of medical books to Public Health Officials

Public Health Officials here have received $40,000 worth of books from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Pharmaceutical Association in collaboration with the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association.{{more}}

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Pharmaceutical Association Tyrone Jack told the gathering that the modern trend of using multi medication to treat illnesses has given rise to an increase in medical errors.

According to Jack, the books will help the pharmacists to prescribe the correct drug dosage to the patient. He also highlighted that in order for pharmacists to perform ideally they must be sharp with their drug information, and their information must be obtained from up to date literature, and they must work together as a team with their other health colleagues.

“It has been shown by many studies that the pharmacist’s early involvement in patient therapy and their continued intervention is the best known option to minimizing these errors and enhance optimal therapeutic outcomes,” Jack told the medical officers.

The books will be distributed free of cost to pharmacists throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to all district medical officers, staff nurses, family nurse practitioners and community hospitals’ pharmacies.

A total of 264 copies of the books were donated made up of 160 copies of British National Formulary (BNF), 100 copies of Pediatric BNF and 4 copies of Martindale, which is sometimes called the ‘Pharmacy Bible’ as it contains a wide range of information.

The handing over ceremony was held on Thursday May 3rd at the Public Health Department.(SB)