Ethical Issues Encountered by Pharmacy Professionals
- VernacularTitle:Эмийн мэргэжилтэнд тохиолдож буй ёс зүйн асуудлыг судалсан дүн
- Author:
Udval B
1
;
Myagmarsuren B
1
;
Munkhbat S
1
Author Information
1. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, MNUMS
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Community pharmacy, prescription, customer interaction
- From:
Mongolian Journal of Health Sciences
2025;87(3):166-174
- CountryMongolia
- Language:Mongolian
-
Abstract:
Background:Community pharmacies are accessible healthcare institutions
that offer services without the need for appointments or prepayment.
In recent years, the scope of pharmacist responsibilities has
expanded from merely dispensing medications and medical devices to
providing patient-centered pharmaceutical care, health promotion, and
disease prevention. As a result, pharmacists are increasingly confronted
with ethical challenges in their daily practice.
Aim:To identify the ethical issues faced by pharmacists working in
community pharmacies in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted
between March and September 2024 among pharmacists working in
community pharmacies in Ulaanbaatar. Participants included 374 pharmacists
who had been working for at least three months, held valid
professional licenses, and voluntarily agreed to participate. A structured
questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were analyzed
using SPSS version 25.0.
Results:Among the respondents, 339 (90.4%) were female, 301
(80.48%) were pharmacists, and 230 (61.5%) were under 30 years old.
Additionally, 214 (57.2%) had worked in a community pharmacy for less
than five years. Open-ended responses were coded into three major
categories and 15 subcategories: (1) pharmacy management and organization,
(2) compliance with laws and regulations, and (3) professional
communication with clients. The most frequently reported ethical issues
were: Customers demanding prescription-only medications without a
valid prescription (56.6%), Negative or inappropriate client behavior
(27.5%), Attempts to use expired or invalid prescriptions (14%)
Conclusion:1. A total of 56.1% of pharmacists demonstrated insufficient
knowledge of the Code of Ethics for healthcare professionals,
which is essential for their professional practice. 2. Among pharmacists,
54.5% showed a negative attitude, and 48.9% exhibited inappropriate
practices when faced with certain ethical situations. 3. The most common
ethical challenges faced by pharmacists include: Requests from
clients to dispense prescription-only medicines without a valid prescription
(56.6%), Unethical or inappropriate behavior from clients (27.5%),
Attempts to obtain medicines using invalid prescriptions (14%).
- Full text:2025052421415215897166-175.pdf
