Special Pharmacies for Coronavirus Will Open! New regulations are being introduced for pharmacies as part of the fight against the coronavirus. Plans call for designated pandemic pharmacies to be established especially near hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. Under the proposed measures, these pharmacies will sell only medicines necessary for the pandemic. The stated aim is to minimize the infection risk for healthcare workers working in pharmacies. New precautions against the coronavirus continue to be added and implemented every day.
These pandemic pharmacies are expected to operate actively throughout the outbreak. According to the decision, the planned pandemic pharmacies have already begun preparations to start work. The pharmacies, to be located close to hospitals treating coronavirus patients, will be limited to dispensing only COVID-19 related medications. Accordingly, the pharmacies planned near treatment centers must meet certain structural and operational requirements. The characteristics of the pandemic pharmacies to be opened are as follows.
What Are the Features of the Pandemic Pharmacies to Be Opened?
What Are the Features of the Pandemic Pharmacies to Be Opened? Pandemic pharmacies that will operate until the end of the coronavirus outbreak must meet a number of specified criteria. The requirements for pandemic pharmacies are as follows.
- The pandemic pharmacies to be established must have a minimum area of 10 square meters.
- The medicine delivery area and entrance of pandemic pharmacies will be monitored 24/7 by a camera system.
- Only drugs listed in the COVID-19 treatment guidelines will be dispensed from these pharmacies.
- If patient density increases, an isolation area arranged according to isolation rules will be created.
- Pandemic pharmacies must have protected windows and secured doors.
- A physical barrier will be installed between the patient and the pharmacist to reduce transmission risk.
- Medicines from pandemic pharmacies will be handed to patients through a window positioned at chest height.
- Requests from the medicine depot must be made before stocks run out.
- Responsible pharmacists and staff, due to direct contact, are required to work using personal protective equipment.
- Medication packages must include the patient’s name, drug name, daily dosage, treatment duration, route of administration, and storage instructions.