Patient counselling a core duty, pharmacists told

Long queues and limited staff are no excuse for skipping patient counselling, health ministry director of pharmaceutical services Naita Nghishekwa has told pharmacy professionals.Speaking at the launch of National Pharmacy Week at Windhoek Central Hospital on Monday, she said inadequate explanations could lead patients to take incorrect doses, stop treatment early, share medicines or avoid taking them altogether.“A patient who leaves with a clear understanding of what the medicine is for, how and when to take it, what side effects to expect and when to return to the clinic is far more likely to complete treatment and recover,” Nghishekwa said.Nghishekwa said a pharmacy professional is, for many patients, the last health worker they speak to before starting treatment, making that interaction crucial to the safe and effective use of medicines.“This is why counselling is not an optional extra. It is a core professional responsibility,” she said.She acknowledged that conditions in many health facilities are not ideal, but encouraged pharmacy professionals to make practical improvements within their control. These include explaining instructions in a patient’s own language where possible, providing written guidance and checking that the patient has understood.She also called for medication errors, adverse reactions and suspected medicine quality problems to be recognised, documented and reported.Windhoek Central Hospital medical superintendent Dr Herman Shitaleni said pharmacy professionals play a critical role in patient safety and treatment decisions, beyond dispensing medicines.“Although pharmacy activities may not always be visible at the bedside, they are closely connected to the quality and safety of the treatment patients receive,” he said.Safe treatment also depends on cooperation between pharmacists, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, he added.He encouraged pharmacy students to enter the profession with integrity and a strong sense of responsibility, alongside the technical knowledge required for their work.“You will be joining a healthcare environment where technical knowledge matters, but so do teamwork, communication and compassion,” Shitaleni said.

Patient counselling a core duty, pharmacists told

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-22

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Patient counselling a core duty, pharmacists told

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-22

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