Pharmacy Division

Introduction
The role of pharmacists has been greatly changed by recent developments in computer technology, the revision of medical law and the introduction of the medical fee. Although pharmacists were known to be professionals whose primary function is to compound and dispense medicines prescribed by physicians, their responsibilities have broadened substantially in recent years. As a result, pharmacists are health professionals who are concerned with the pharmaceutical needs of patients. The Pharmacy division is endeavoring to ensure proper drug usage, and to support improvement of patient's quality of life, through our daily pharmaceutical practice. When the new GCP was put into effect in April 1998, the Clinical Research Control Room was newly established in our hospital. Consequently, pharmacists are expected not only to manage investigational drugs but also to play the role of clinical research coordinator.

Routine Activities 
As a matter of course, pharmaceutical care is the basis of all works of pharmacist. We also give bedside advice on taking medicine to inpatients including those in the Palliative Care Unit, as a part of our clinical activities. Pharmacists explain to patients the names of drugs, usage, quantity, effectiveness, and reasons for caution and possible side effects. It is important for patients to fully understand why they have to take the medicines prescribed for them. We also provide drug information as a leaflet for outpatients at the request of doctors. We provide a computerized drug information system for the medical staff. We also send out information about important side effects, new drug adoptions and drug deletions via email. Because of the increase in outpatient treatment of some types of cancers, we prepare more anti-cancer agents each year.

New Developments in 2002
Since the Clinical Research Control Room was founded in April 1999, two pharmacists have been assigned as Clinical Research Coordinators (CRC). They conduct works in accordance with the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the new GCP, particularly in the preparation or instructing the use of investigational drugs for the patients. With cooperation with CRCs, our division is now capable to manage investigational new drugs, much better than before. In August 2000, a pharmacist who is a licensed supervisor in nuclear radiation was assigned in our division. He mainly works at Diagnostic Radiology Division in order to produce and qualify the radiopharmaceuticals for positron emission tomography (PET). In November 2000, the prescription ordering system was fully operated. In addition, the Automatic Dispensing System for Injection worked with injection ordering system that automatically checks the dose of anticancer agents as well as the interval of chemotherapy. We hope that this wiil help our division to furter improve pharmaceutical activities. In the year 2001, because of the increase in extramural dispensing and improved efficiency, we could instruct more patients on the use of their medication.

K. TAKADA

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