Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Editorial
. 2021 Nov 8;14(1):96.
doi: 10.1186/s40545-021-00378-9.

Pharmacists and telemedicine: an innovative model fulfilling Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Nadia Bukhari  1   2 , Maryam Siddique  2 , Nazia Bilal  2 , Sobia Javed  2 , Arzu Moosvi  2 , Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar  3
Affiliations
Editorial

Pharmacists and telemedicine: an innovative model fulfilling Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Nadia Bukhari et al. J Pharm Policy Pract. .

Abstract

The lack of access to safe medicines and quality healthcare services in peri-urban and rural areas is a major challenge driving a health system to innovate new models of care. This commentary will discuss the implementation and impact of the "Guddi baji" tele-pharmacy model, a project piloted by doctHERs, one of Pakistan's leading telemedicine organizations. This innovative model has described the reintegration of women into the workforce by leveraging technology to improve the level of primary health care services and contributes to safe medication practice in a remote area. Our intervention proposed the deployment of technology-enabled, female frontline health workers known as the Guddi baji (meaning The Good Sister) in a rural village. They serve as an "access point to health care" that is linked to a remotely located health care professional; a licensed doctor or a pharmacist within this model.

Keywords: Pharmacists; Sustainable Development Goals; Telemedicine.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

NB is the member of the international Advisory Board of Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice. ZUDB is the Editor in Chief of Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Guddi Baji (GB) tele-pharmacy model
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Process flow for tele-pharmacy intervention
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. The World Bank. Population, Pakistan. (cited 2021 November 01); 2021. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=PK.
    1. Khalid A, Ali S. COVID-19 and its challenges for the healthcare system in Pakistan. Asian Bioethics Rev. 2020;12(4):551–564. doi: 10.1007/s41649-020-00139-x. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ashfaq A, Memon SF, Zehra A, et al. Knowledge and attitude regarding telemedicine among doctors in Karachi. Cureus. 2020;12(2):e6927. doi: 10.7759/cureus.6927. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Shah TK, Tariq T, Phillips R, Davison S, Hoare A, Hasan SS, Babar ZUD. Health care for all: effective, community supported, healthcare with innovative use of telemedicine. J Pharm Policy Pract. 2018;11:3. doi: 10.1186/s40545-018-0130-5. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kazi AM, Qazi SA, Ahsan N, Khawaja S, Sameen F, Saqib M, Khan Mughal MA, Wajidali Z, Ali S, Ahmed RM, Kalimuddin H, Rauf Y, Mahmood F, Zafar S, Abbasi TA, Khoumbati KU, Abbasi MA, Stergioulas LK. Current challenges of digital health interventions in pakistan: mixed methods analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(9):e21691. doi: 10.2196/21691. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types