Clinical pharmacy in Kuwait: Services provided, perceptions and barriers

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacy practice has considerably evolved from a dispensing role to a patient-centered profession. Kuwait has minimal clinical pharmacy services established in its healthcare settings. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to document existing clinical pharmacy services in public hospitals, identify barriers to their implementation and assess perceptions regarding pharmacists providing clinical services. MATERIAL & METHOD: A cross sectional study using self-administered questionnaires among a total of 166 pharmacists and 284 physicians across 6 public hospitals in Kuwait was conducted. RESULTS: Over half of pharmacists (54%) provided clinical services, with the most common service being education and drug information (86%). Forty percent (40%) of the pharmacists reported that clinical services offered were of their own initiative but most of them (71%) were not sure whether they would offer additional services in the future. The majority of physicians were receptive to an expanded patient-centered role of the pharmacist (97%), believed pharmacists add to patient clinical care (92%) and considered pharmacists members of the healthcare team (96%). Major barriers reported by pharmacists to implement clinical pharmacy services included lack of policy (49%), time (36%) and clinical skills (28%), which is similar to barriers reported by physicians. CONCLUSION: Although clinical pharmacy is in its infancy in Kuwait, it is well perceived and requested by physicians. Major barriers must be addressed and in this context, having a national framework for pharmacy practice from Ministry of Health, supported by cutting edge education and a pro-active professional association would be key assets to evolve the practice in Kuwait.