Self-regulation of Pharmaceuticals: A User-Led Approach
New and Improved Article:
Let's dive into the latest updates from Semey, where an intriguing monitoring exercise took place, courtesy of the "Anti-Corruption Volunteering" project, as reported by Liter.kz.
This quirky crew of youth, veterans, political heavyweights, labor unions, media moguls, and beyond, banded together to put the new QR code-based free drug distribution system to the test. The volunteers, backed by the anti-corruption service, swept into local clinics in Semey to see if this high-tech approach was delivering the goods.
After their thorough investigation, these dedicated volunteers reported no major hiccups. In fact, they lauded the QR code system, stating it boosts transparency, modernizes the process, and improves efficiency. According to them, this digital shift significantly minimizes the risks of fake prescriptions, drug theft, and drains the budget.
It's essential to note that this system was initially tested in a pilot program in the Aбай region towards the end of last year. Fast forward to the beginning of the current year, and it went national. The anti-corruption service had good reason for this innovation—they'd uncovered shady goings-on in the healthcare sector. It transpired that distributor "SK-Farmatsiya" was doling out medicines late, leading to scarcity of free drugs. Patients were left high and dry, shelling out their hard-earned cash for essential meds. To cover their tracks, fake prescriptions were churned out in clinics, declaring the drugs had been dished out.
To tackle this mess, a system for distributing free meds via QR code in the 'Social Wallet' section of the eGov Mobile app was rolled out in all clinics in Aбаy.
Clinic No. 4 in Semey showcased the advantages of this modern system. With it, patients no longer have to juggle paper prescriptions. A nurse can now hand out the required medication without standing in line, saving precious time for both staff and patients. For elderly folks or those technophobes who can't navigate the 'Social Wallet,' identification using Face-ID and webcams do the trick when visiting the clinic, and the prescribed drugs are still handed to the patient.
The brilliance of this electronic medication dispensing system doesn't end there. It stores patient medication history in the database, helps assess service quality, offers an avenue for leaving comments, and even allows for the automatic submission of electronic complaints to the authorized government agency for poor ratings.
The department responsible is mulling over ways to bolster the "Law and Order" principle in healthcare, considering citizen suggestions and societal demands. This means beefing up control mechanisms, digitalizing medication dispensing processes, and ultimately, building trust between the public and government agencies. This monitoring exercise serves as a prime example of promoting transparency and fortifying the bond between civil society and government agencies.
Bonus Insights: Kazakhstan has also introduced the Pharmaceutical Traceability System, which bolsters the safety and authenticity of drugs, indirectly helping curb corruption by ensuring all pharmaceuticals are tracked from manufacturer to patient [1]. Utilizing QR codes or similar technologies (like blockchain) in drug distribution systems can potentially reduce corruption by tracking the origin and movement of drugs, making it easier to identify dodgy or unauthorized products [2]. However, the precise implementation and impact of QR code-based systems in eradicating corruption in Kazakhstan's healthcare sector aren't detailed in the readily available data on the topic.
[1] GlobalData. (2020). Kazakhstan pharma: Traceability to boost security and authenticate medicines. Pharmaceutical Technology.
[2] Envisio. (2020). How blockchain is transforming the pharmaceutical industry. Envisio.
- The adequate use of technology, such as QR codes and the Pharmaceutical Traceability System, in the healthcare sector of Kazakhstan could potentially minimize corruption by ensuring the authenticity and tracking of medications from manufacturing to the patient.
- The Anti-Corruption Volunteering project in Semey admired the benefits of the newly implemented QR code-based free drug distribution system, claiming it boosts transparency, modernizes processes, and minimizes risks of fake prescriptions, drug theft, and budget drains.
- With the Science and Health-and-Wellness industries embracing technology, prescription medication can now be conveniently stored in a digital database, providing easy access to patient medication history and enhancing service quality.
- Although the exact implementation and impact of QR code-based systems in eradicating corruption in Kazakhstan's healthcare sector are not fully detailed in readily available data, the department responsible is actively considering ways to digitalize medication dispensing processes, strengthen control mechanisms, and build trust between the public and government agencies.
