Khanh’s scientific contributions

Objectives: The pharmaceutical supply chain is an important component of the health system in drug supply. Pharmaceutical care is a critical factor in the final step of drug supply, from community pharmacies to patients. Pharmaceutical care is a process by which pharmacists collaborate with patients and other specialists in the design, implementation, and monitoring of a treatment plan that will produce specific therapeutic outcomes for the patient. The process consists of three main functions: (1) identification of drug-related and factual issues; (2) solving problems related to drugs in practice; (3) prevent drug-related problems. Pharmaceutical care provides direct benefit to the patients and the pharmacist is directly responsible for the quality of care. The basic relationship in pharmaceutical care is a mutual benefit in which the patient places his trust in the provider, and the provider provides the patient with quality and commitment. The main objective of this article is to study basic factors impacting pharmaceutical care services to at community pharmacies, which is the final step in the pharmaceutical supply chain in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Methods: A patient questionnaire was designed and opinions of pharmaceutical professionals obtained from community pharmacy association leaders, and community pharmacists in Ho Chi Minh City. The questionnaire focused on five factors: use of information technology for drug delivery and disease management; pharmacy location; patient education; drug information and pharmacovigilance; cooperation in pharmacy practice. Results: An analysis of exploratory factors was used to examine the causal relationship between the five factors along with the effect of pharmaceutical care services on patients in the pharmaceutical supply chain in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This study will provide evidence-based research on quality of patient care services according to governmental regulations. Conclusion: Pharmaceutical care services are considered an essential component of the public health care system. This is the first study investigating the impact of these services on public health in Ho Chi Minh City. The value of the study is to determine factors influencing on pharmaceutical supply chain and to provide suggestions for improving the pharmacy services in community pharmacies in Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces in Vietnam.