Airport based pharmacies; products, services and challenges essential for patients in a global travel landscape

Jairoun AA 1 , Al-Hemyari SS 2 , Shahwan M 3 , Zyoud SH 4 , Abu-Gharbieh E 5 , Jairoun M 6 Show all authors , Kurdi A 7 , Godman B 8

Affiliations 

  • 1 Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, UAE; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang 11500, Malaysia. Electronic address: Dr_ammar_91_@hotmail.com
  • 2 Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, UAE; Pharmacy Department, Emirates Health Services, Dubai, United Arab
  • 3 Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, Ajman, 346, United Arab Emirates; Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
  • 4 Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus 44839, Palestine; Clinical Research Centre, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus 44839, Palestine
  • 5 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates; Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
  • 6 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
  • 7 Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, 161 Cathedral Street, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, United Kingdom; Center of Research and strategic studies, Lebanese French University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region Government, Iraq; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region Government, Iraq
  • 8 Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, Ajman, 346, United Arab Emirates; Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, 161 Cathedral Street, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, United Kingdom; Division of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako -Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
J Am Pharm Assoc (2003), 2023 Jun 22.
PMID: 37354940 DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2023.06.013

Abstract

The role of airport pharmacies has grown in recent years to provide a range of services to travelers including OTC and prescription medicines as well as advice on prevention of infectious and other diseases. Prevention, including protective equipment, is especially important during pandemics as seen with the recent COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, offering vaccinations where appropriate. However, this is not universal and there are currently no acknowledged guidelines for pharmacists operating within airports. In addition, research into their role as well as potential ways to improve this is lacking. This is a concern with community pharmacists playing a valuable role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Potential ways forward including greater research into their activities to enhance their role and address challenges. These include issues of brand names and language, as well as encouraging travel pharmacy in future university curricula. In addition, producing guidelines for their activities and monitoring their implementation. This can help build a greater role for their services benefiting airport staff and travelers in the future.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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