Once the prescriptions received at the pharmacy department, pharmacist need to be check and screen the prescription order to ensure that there is no medication error and the prescription is complete and dated correctly.
Each of every prescription should contained the following information:
generic name of drug,
complete dose in mg, ml or IU;
administration route such as SC, IM, IV, PO, LA or others
administration frequency such as DAILY, BD, TDS, QID etc
treatment duration such as 5/7, 1/52 or2/52
starting date
prescriber’s signature
patient name
ward and bed number
Reasons for a pharmacist to screen all the prescriptions to ensure that the following are met:
The authenticity of prescription/prescriber
Adherence to FUKKM
Suitability of dosing regimen
Drug interaction
Polypharmacy
Correct medication administration method and frequency
Others
The prescription must be signed by the prescriber according to the categories set by the Ministry of Health Malaysia Drug Formulary (FUKKM).
All the prescriptions for medications listed under the category of A, A/KK or A* must be stamped and countersigned by the relevant specialist. Besides, KPK item requires a separate application form for the approval from the State Director of Health.
The categories of the prescriber authorized to initiate the prescription for the drug is listed below:
A* - Consultant /Specialist for specific Indications only
Dental consultant, Dental specialist and Dental Officers are also included in this category but for the drugs used in dental treatment only.
In case of any intervention, the Pharmacist/Pharmacy Assistant should contact the medical officer for clarification or issue an Intervention Note to the respective prescriber.
Reproduced with permission: Intervention Advise Note
Consent should be obtained from the prescriber prior to making any changes on the prescription. Once prescriber confirmed that changes is needed, it should be documented in the “Note“ column of the CMR. In the scenario whereby countersignature for medications under Category A has not been obtained and patient needs it urgently, the prescription can be copied into the CMR and medications can be supplied first to the ward while waiting for countersignature from the specialist or consultant. At the same time, along with the prescription, an Intervention Note which states the necessity for signature from specialist/ consultant should be attached and resent to the ward. Once the prescription is countersigned, the prescription will be returned to the pharmacy department so that it can be pasted on the CMR.
Reproduced with permission: Intervention Advise Note