Spatial distribution of health consultations in the past two weeks by provider type and district: Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey 2014-15.

Place is a nexus between epidemiology and Geographic Information System. In this study, the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement survey 2014-15 data on percent distribution of health consultations, in the past 2-weeks by type of healthcare provider were mapped cumulatively, as well as disaggregated by urban and rural areas, using a GIS programme to visualize spatial distribution in the country by district. Private sector is the main and preferred provider for healthcare services when Pakistanis get sick or injured. Differences between and within provinces - at the district level - exist, but in spite of significant investment by the government in public sector health and nutrition services; most people prefer going to private dispensaries and hospitals. Harnessing the visualization power of GIS for better decision making in health sector is contingent upon easy availability of up-to-date GIS shapefiles to analyze and depict health data on maps.

A systematic methodology to assess the identity of plants in historical texts: A case study based on the Byzantine pharmacy text John the Physician's Therapeutics.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In recent decades, the study of historical texts has attracted research interest, particularly in ethnopharmacology. All studies of the materia medica cited in ancient and medieval texts share a concern, however, as to the reliability of modern identifications of these substances. Previous studies of European or Mediterranean texts relied mostly on authoritative dictionaries or glossaries providing botanical identities for the historical plant names in question. Several identities they suggest, however, are questionable and real possibility of error exists. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to develop and document a novel and interdisciplinary methodology providing more objective assessment of the identity of the plants (and minerals) described in these resources. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed an iterative experimental approach, using the 13th century Byzantine recipe text John the Physician's Therapeutics in its Commentary version (JC) as a case study. The methodology has six stages and relies on comparative analyses including statistical evaluation of botanical descriptions and information about medicinal uses drawn from both historical and modern sources. Stages 1-4 create the dataset, stage 5 derives the primary outcomes to be reviewed by experts in stage 6. RESULTS: Using Disocorides' De Materia Medica (DMM) (1st century CE) as the culturally related reference text for the botanical descriptions of the plants cited in JC, allowed us to link the 194 plants used medicinally in JC with 252 plants cited in DMM. Our test sample for subsequent analyses consisted of the 50 JC plant names (corresponding to 61 DMM plants) for which DMM holds rich morphological information, and the 130 candidate species which have been suggested in the literature as potential botanical identities of those 50 JC plant names. Statistical evaluation of the comparative analyses revealed that in the majority of the cases, our method detected the candidate species having a higher likelihood of being the correct attribution from among the pool of suggested candidates. Final assessment and revision provided a list of the challenges associated with applying our methodology more widely and recommendations on how to address these issues. CONCLUSIONS: We offer this multidisciplinary approach to more evidence-based assessment of the identity of plants in historical texts providing a measure of confidence for each suggested identity. Despite the experimental nature of our methodology and its limitations, its application allowed us to draw conclusions about the validity of suggested candidate plants as well as to distinguish between alternative candidates of the same historical plant name. Fully documenting the methodology facilitates its application to historical texts of any kind of cultural or linguistic background.

A qualitative study of pharmacists' perceptions and awareness of homoeopathic medicines in Durban, South Africa.

BACKGROUND:  There is growing interest in the demand for and use of homoeopathic medicines by the public; however, little is known about the perspectives of pharmacists regarding the use of these medicines, particularly in the South African private health context. METHODS:  A qualitative approach using an exploratory cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 15 participants comprising pharmacy managers, pharmacists and pharmacy assistants from six different conveniently selected private pharmacy retail outlets. Data were collected using individual interviews utilising a semi-structured interview guide. An audiotape was used to record the data which were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically, following Tech's steps of data analysis. Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from the Durban University of Technology's Institutional Research Ethics Committee. RESULTS:  The findings of this study revealed four superordinate themes related to pharmacists' perceptions and self-reported awareness regarding homoeopathic medicines. These are (1) negative perceptions regarding homoeopathic medicines, (2) perceived benefits of homoeopathic medicines, (3) poor knowledge and awareness of homoeopathic medicines and (4) capacity development and curriculum aspects. CONCLUSION:  The findings highlight the need for an educational intervention on homoeopathic medicines targeting pre-service and in-service pharmacy practitioners, to enable them to provide effective education regarding all types of medicines as the demand for homoeopathic medicines increases.Contribution: The study findings provide evidence to support advocacy for an educational intervention to improve awareness and knowledge of pharmacists to enable provision of effective health education for patients. More research, however, is required to inform the contents of this training intervention for pharmacists.

Ontological journeys: The lifeworld of opium across the Afghan-Iranian border in/out of the pharmacy.

How can we conceive alternative policy models that embrace the empirical potentialities emerging from the lifeworld of drugs? The article reflects on this question, concluding that to reassess and to reinvent current policies on drugs, we need to think with a political ontology. Incidentally, the article also responds to the critique dismissing ontological inquiries as obstructing - or, at best, not informing - alternative drug policies. In an archaeological approach inspired by the work of Giorgio Agamben, the article unearths the case study of opium maintenance programme in Iran (1969-79), a forgotten policy experiment in an understudied and yet crucial geo-cultural environment for the global study of drugs. Mobilising the conceptual framework of ontological journeys, the article recomposes the lifeworld of opium within the horizons of transformative cultural practices, international borders, policy regimes and public ethics. Here, the materiality of drug consumption under the maintenance policy links with the changes in opium's transnational political economy and with shifting regimes of health and bioethical orthodoxy. Ontological journeys, hence, develop in a fluid space and time, making it possible to illuminate the lifeworld of drugs in places and times hitherto deserted by global policy studies. In building theoretical reflections upon a non-Western case, the article also incites the possibility of theory beyond Eurocentric knowledge and Euromerican cases. In this way, the article's purpose is to analyse the be-coming of opium beyond 'good' or 'evil', as a 'medicine' or a 'drug' and its real or perceived classification as 'licit' or 'illicit' across the Afghan-Iranian border. In conclusion, the article reflects upon the significance of this forgotten policy experiment, understood as an ontological journey, for contemporary drug policy and drug studies, but also for reinventing notions of care, welfare and health.

[On the concept of bencao].

Being the typical traditional Chinese pharmacy closely related with medicine, Bencao is a knowledge of extensive contents including what is presently called Chinese materia medica. It also has a systematic theory and valuable experience of practice. Today Bencao is still of practical significance for medical and health work in our country.

[To the study of conventual health in the beginning of 19th century: the pharmacies]. / Para o estudo da saúde conventual no início do século XIX: as boticas.

The institution "Junta do Exame do Estado Actual e Melhoramento Temporal das Ordens Regulares" (Examination Council for the Actual State and Temporal Improvement of the Religious Orders) was created in November of 1789. Among other things, each Religious House should inform that institution about its heritage either the movables and the landed estates. The inventorying included all the goods belonging to wards and drugstores. In this paper, we aim to study those places using records obtained from a variety of Religious Houses with no regional or Religious Order preferences. We will try to give answers to questions related to that spaces such as 'Which objects could be found inside the Houses?'; 'Were they properly equipped?'; and 'Were there big differences between them in what concerns Religious Orders and Houses locations?'.

Where does homeopathy fit in pharmacy practice?

Homeopathy has been the cause of much debate in the scientific literature with respect to the plausibility and efficacy of homeopathic preparations and practice. Nonetheless, many consumers, pharmacists, physicians, and other health care providers continue to use or practice homeopathic medicine and advocate its safety and efficacy. As drug experts, pharmacists are expected to be able to counsel their patients on how to safely and effectively use medications, which technically includes homeopathic products. Yet many pharmacists feel that the homeopathic system of medicine is based on unscientific theories that lack supporting evidence. Since consumers continue to use homeopathic products, it is necessary for pharmacists to have a basic knowledge of homeopathy and to be able to counsel patients about its general use, the current state of the evidence and its use in conjunction with other medications.

Effect of alternative medicinal systems and general practice.

Alternative medicinal systems like Ayurveda and homeopathy are respected and legitimate sciences. The former was born in India. Colleges abound in this country churning out tens of thousands of graduates of these fields. It is ironic that a large number of them pratice allopathic general practice instead of, or along with, their field of specialisation despite laws prohibiting them to do so. Their gross lack of knowledge of dermatology wreaks a havoc. Even GPs contribute to this confusion for the same reason. Pharmacists contribute to unauthorised sale of dermatologic drugs and promote unsupervised treatment flouting the law. The result is neglected and vitiated dermatoses, unwanted adverse drug reactions and resource depletion for the patient. The practising dermatologist in India is unfortunately the one who bears the brunt of the above confusion. However these situations are also contributory to the enviable clinical skills that Indian dermatologists are so well known for.

A implantação da farmácia homeopática da DIR I - SES/SP

Este estudo relata o processo de implantação da farmácia pública homeopática da DIR I da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde, bem como sua contribuição para o serviço de homeopatia na rede pública de saúde, da cidade de São Paulo, no primeiro ano de funcionamento. Pretende fornecer alguns subsídios para implantação de projetos similares, em outros serviços públicos. Descreve as facilidades e dificuldades encontradas pelos executores durante o processo. Evidencia seu custo para a instituição, a sua abrangência nos equipamentos de saúde do município, ou seja, seu alcance junto aos Distritos Sanitários, na malha da capital nas suas diferentes regiões. A produção da farmácia e o envio dos medicamentos aos locais de atendimento, foram verificados e estão devidamente registrados no trabalho.A pesquisa documental utilizou os arquivos da farmácia e os registros da sua produção. Foram realizadas entrevistas com médicos homeopatas da rede, com usuários que se tratam com homeopatia nos serviços públicos de saúde da cidade de São Paulo, e com os responsáveis pelo processo de implementação da farmácia. As entrevistas revelaram satisfação quanto ao fornecimento gratuito, pelo serviço, dos medicamentos homeopáticos com qualidade e também expectativa quanto ao efetivo funcionamento da farmácia. Um desdobramento importante que pode advir deste trabalho é o suporte a implementação de serviços assemelhados, para a disponibilidade dos medicamentos aos usuários do Sistema Unico de Saúde (SUS)

A implantação da farmácia homeopática da DIR I - SES/SP / The implementation of homeopathic pharmacy of DIR I - SES/SP

Este estudo relata o processo de implantação da farmácia pública homeopática da DIR I da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde, bem como sua contribuição para o serviço de homeopatia na rede pública de saúde, da cidade de São Paulo, no primeiro ano de funcionamento. Pretende fornecer alguns subsídios para implantação de projetos similares, em outros serviços públicos. Descreve as facilidades e dificuldades encontradas pelos executores durante o processo. Evidencia seu custo para a instituição, a sua abrangência nos equipamentos de saúde do município, ou seja, seu alcance junto aos Distritos Sanitários, na malha da capital nas suas diferentes regiões. A produção da farmácia e o envio dos medicamentos aos locais de atendimento, foram verificados e estão devidamente registrados no trabalho.A pesquisa documental utilizou os arquivos da farmácia e os registros da sua produção. Foram realizadas entrevistas com médicos homeopatas da rede, com usuários que se tratam com homeopatia nos serviços públicos de saúde da cidade de São Paulo, e com os responsáveis pelo processo de implementação da farmácia. As entrevistas revelaram satisfação quanto ao fornecimento gratuito, pelo serviço, dos medicamentos homeopáticos com qualidade e também expectativa quanto ao efetivo funcionamento da farmácia. Um desdobramento importante que pode advir deste trabalho é o suporte a implementação de serviços assemelhados, para a disponibilidade dos medicamentos aos usuários do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS)(AU)

A implantação da farmácia homeopática da DIR I - SES/SP / The implementation of homeopathic pharmacy of DIR I - SES/SP

Este estudo relata o processo de implantação da farmácia pública homeopática da DIR I da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde, bem como sua contribuição para o serviço de homeopatia na rede pública de saúde, da cidade de São Paulo, no primeiro ano de funcionamento. Pretende fornecer alguns subsídios para implantação de projetos similares, em outros serviços públicos. Descreve as facilidades e dificuldades encontradas pelos executores durante o processo. Evidencia seu custo para a instituição, a sua abrangência nos equipamentos de saúde do município, ou seja, seu alcance junto aos Distritos Sanitários, na malha da capital nas suas diferentes regiões. A produção da farmácia e o envio dos medicamentos aos locais de atendimento, foram verificados e estão devidamente registrados no trabalho.A pesquisa documental utilizou os arquivos da farmácia e os registros da sua produção. Foram realizadas entrevistas com médicos homeopatas da rede, com usuários que se tratam com homeopatia nos serviços públicos de saúde da cidade de São Paulo, e com os responsáveis pelo processo de implementação da farmácia. As entrevistas revelaram satisfação quanto ao fornecimento gratuito, pelo serviço, dos medicamentos homeopáticos com qualidade e também expectativa quanto ao efetivo funcionamento da farmácia. Um desdobramento importante que pode advir deste trabalho é o suporte a implementação de serviços assemelhados, para a disponibilidade dos medicamentos aos usuários do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS)

Boticas e pharmacias: uma história ilustrada da farmácia no Brasil / Pharmacies: an illustrated history of Pharmacy in Brazil

Incursão histórica que resgata não só o papel do profissional de cura na sociedade brasileira, como também as doenças e seus respectivos tratamentos através dos tempos. Para contar a trajetória da farmácia no país, apresenta, como pano de fundo da narrativa, o Brasil em três momentos históricos: Colônia, Império e República. As transformações são abordadas sob um ponto de vista político, social e cultural e revelam a evolução da saúde brasileira.