Clinical Pharmacist: One of the Pillars of Comprehensive Health Care

On October 10, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital organized a scientific conference with the theme 'Clinical pharmacists in the era of personalized medicine', attracting the attention of more than 750 experts, pharmacists, and doctors.

"Clinical Pharmacists in the Era of Personalized Medicine" is an important academic forum to update new advances, share practical experiences and affirm the growing role of clinical pharmacists in modern health care.

Associate Professor - Dr. Ngo Quoc Dat, Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, delivered the opening speech at the conference.

Photo: BVCC

In his opening speech, Associate Professor - Dr. Ngo Quoc Dat, President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, shared: "Along with the strong development of the health sector, clinical pharmacy is increasingly affirming its role as one of the pillars of the comprehensive care system, associated with 3 core values: effectiveness - safety - rational use of drugs... In the trend of personalized medicine, pharmacists are not only 'drug dispensers' but also key members in the multidisciplinary treatment model, connecting pharmaceutical, clinical and patient knowledge. The 2025 Clinical Pharmacy Conference with the theme 'Clinical pharmacists in the era of personalized medicine' is an opportunity for pharmacists to update their knowledge, improve their skills, strengthen their connections and aim to optimize care and treatment for patients."

In addition, Associate Professor - Doctor - Doctor Nguyen Hoang Bac, Director of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, emphasized that clinical pharmacy plays a key role in building a culture of patient safety. From the early days, the coordination model between doctors - pharmacists - nurses has been formed and developed sustainably, present in all departments of the hospital. Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital is also the first unit in the country to deploy a pharmacy management subsystem in electronic medical records, improving safety and treatment effectiveness. In the context of personalized medicine, clinical pharmacists are the core force accompanying doctors in optimizing treatment, and hope to continue to receive the support of experts and professional associations at home and abroad.

Associate Professor - Doctor - Doctor Nguyen Hoang Bac - Director of University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City spoke at the conference

Photo: AI

The reports at the conference focused on three prominent contents: pharmacogenetics, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) and the trend of personalized treatment. In particular, TDM is considered a special highlight when it allows effective control and safety of drug groups with narrow therapeutic ranges such as anti-rejection drugs, antibiotics, antifungals or anti-epileptic drugs. By monitoring drug concentrations, doctors and pharmacists can adjust dosages in a timely manner, limit side effects, reduce drug resistance and significantly improve treatment results.

Experts at the conference said that in clinical practice, the same drug dosage can have a large difference in treatment effectiveness and side effects between patients. The combination of TDM and pharmacogenetics allows for the development of a "tailor-made" treatment regimen for each individual, suitable for their unique biological characteristics. This is a clear demonstration of the change in treatment approach, from focusing only on symptom control to improving quality of life and optimizing long-term effectiveness.

The conference also pointed out significant challenges, from testing costs, limited specialized human resources, to the need for multidisciplinary coordination. However, these difficulties further confirm the need to build a network for experience sharing, training and research cooperation. At the same time, in the future, with the support of artificial intelligence, big data analysis and new generation genetic technology, clinical pharmacists will have more powerful tools to promote their role in patient care.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/duoc-si-lam-sang-mot-trong-nhung-tru-cot-cham-soc-suc-khoe-toan-dien-185251011163623939.htm