Preface : Pharmacy Practice in Developing Countries

Abstract

The pharmaceutical sector and its overall conditions in developing countries are under-researched. There is a scarcity of studies and information on pharmaceutical health services systems. When we were planning for the current book and during the writing and the editing processes, we were thinking of how best the book should be used by readers, such as practicing pharmacists, pharmacy students, pharmacy educators, regulators, pharmaceutical industry professionals, researchers and policy makers. Several chains of communication occurred between the editors and the chapter contributors during the preparation of this book to ensure the contents discussed and presented are as much as possible consistent and useful for everyone dealing with the pharmaceutical sector. This book covers most of the aspects in the pharmaceutical sectors of 19 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It will be a good resource to secure needed statistics and information related to pharmaceutical consumption and expenditure, regulatory aspects, pharmaceutical education, pharmaceutical industry, hospital pharmacy services, and community pharmacy services. This book also focuses on each country’s strengths and achievements, as well as areas of weakness, barriers to improvement, and challenges. We do hope the contents will encourage and generate more researchers in developing countries in order to put the pharmaceutical sector in each country in the right order.