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Outpatient Pharmacy
Operating Hours for Public
Monday to Friday: 8.00am – 3.30pm
Saturday: 9.00am -12.00pm
Sunday: Closed
Overview
The outpatient pharmacy dispenses only medication listed in the Bahamas National Drug
formulary/contracted list of pharmaceuticals. It provides a pharmaceutical care service to
several patient categories on an outpatient basis. Pharmaceutical preparations, which need
extemporaneous preparation, should be picked up a day later.
How are prescriptions are processed or filled at the Out-patients Pharmacy?
First pick up the number at Window # 1 and be seated till your number appears on the monitor
or is called. Present your number and prescription at the Windows # 1 or 2. Pharmacy
personnel at window may ask you few questions to gather information about you and your
prescription. Your prescription then will be entered into the computer and an information slip
will be generated and given to you to take it to the cashier at the Registration Windows or to
the business office. The cashier or business office will give you the receipt of payment, which
you then need to produce with the information slip at the pharmacy pick up window (Window #
3) when your name is called. After confirming your identity and receiving payment receipt, the
medication will be handed over to you. This process takes any time between 30 minutes to 1
hour depending on the staff compliment at the pharmacy. Prescription filling is not a
mechanical process rather cognitive one, hence you are expected to be patient, polite,
co-operative and non-disruptive.
What do you mean by prescription?
A prescription is a legitimate document that is an order for medication, which is dispensed, to
or for an ultimate user. To be valid, a practitioner acting in the usual course of sound
professional practice must issue a prescription for a controlled substance for a legitimate
medical purpose.
Who can access the services offered by the Out-patients Pharmacy?
Patients having prescriptions for Formulary items available in pharmacy.
Patients having prescription for narcotic and barbiturates drugs on an outpatient basis.
Patients who have attended the General Practice Clinics or Specialty clinics in Princess
Margaret Hospital.
Patients who have outstanding refills, from previously filled PMH and Ministry of Health
prescriptions.
Can I fill private or other Non PMH, outside prescriptions here?
Private prescriptions cannot be filled here because, Princess Margaret Hospital Outpatient
Pharmacy is a governmental nonprofit pharmacy and only accepts PMH prescriptions, Ministry
of Health prescriptions, and prescriptions from PHA run institutions.
Outside clinic prescriptions can be filled only if; they are not more than one week old and follow
the department of pharmacy’s requirements of legitimate prescriptions.
Patient should first check that s/he is in possession of:
A valid prescription, exhaustive of all details including name of the patient, address, drug
name, dosage, frequency, duration, repeats, signed and bear stamp of the prescriber. Patient
or collector’s ID or Medcard if the latter is not the patient himself.
In the case of Non-Formulary items, a valid Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (P&T
committee) approval for drugs and letter of agreement from business office if needed.
Refills cannot be processed if less than three weeks are elapsed.
Can I collect medication for another person?
Yes, but only after producing the receipt from business office. One person cannot collect
medication for more than two persons at one time.
Who is entitled to avoid queuing?
Elderly patients (over 75 years of age) who are processed through PMH patient
representatives.
Family Island Patients who are processed though the Family Island Desk at PMH
Patients with special needs
Any other authorized persons
How much supply of drugs is provided on prescriptions for chronic illnesses?
Depending on pharmacy stock levels, a 30day supply of medication indicated for chronic
diseases is dispensed. The prescriber will usually specify this time frame. However, narcotics
and psychotropic drugs, bulky items and items, which are low in stock, are dispensed on a
weekly basis considering case - by - case. Items prescribed for acute treatment are dispensed
for the duration of the treatment, if this is less than 1 month.
Can I get my prescription back?
The pharmacy always retains the original prescriptions. If some medications on prescriptions
are not dispensed, the prescriptions are returned to the patient after crossing off the supplied
medicines. This will enable the patient to collect the non-supplied medications from other
pharmacy.
What information is required on a prescription for a narcotic or controlled
substance?
A prescription for a narcotics and controlled substance must be written on the prescription
bearing watermark of capital letter ‘C’ and should include the following information:
· Date of issue
· Patient’s name and address
· Practitioner’s name, address and medical council registration number
· Drug name
· Drug strength
· Dosage form
· Quantity prescribed
· Directions for use
· Number of refills (if any) authorized, and
· Signature of prescriber
A prescription must be written in ink or indelible pencil or typewritten and must be manually
signed by the practitioner. The practitioner is responsible for making sure that the prescription
conforms in all respects to the law and regulations.
Who is authorized to prescribe the narcotics and controlled substances?
Only physicians above the level of Registrar are authorized to prescribe narcotics or controlled
substances. Physicians below the level of Registrar cannot use the stamps of Registrar level
physicians to issue prescriptions for narcotics and controlled substances.
Can narcotic or controlled substance prescriptions be refilled?
Prescriptions for narcotic and controlled substances cannot be refilled with the exception of
cancer patients. The cancer patient’s prescriptions may be refilled up to three (3) times in
three (3) months. For any other reasons a new prescription must be presented.
What is a Drug Formulary ?
It is a list of prescription medications developed by physicians and pharmacists working
together under Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee of Princess Margaret Hospital. Princess
Margaret Hospital has used formulary for years to control costs while still providing quality
medications. Physicians working in Princess Margaret Hospital use drug formulary as a guide
when prescribing medication for patients.
Why Drug Formulary is necessary ?
Drug Formulary help to keep drugs affordable and remind physicians and patients that there
are many choices among available medications that are equally effective. As the number of
available drugs increases, it is important to give doctors an easy way to prescribe the best
medications for common conditions.
How are drugs selected for the formulary ?
The Pharmacy and Therapeutic committee review prescription drugs for safety, efficacy and
value. Cost is only a factor in withdrawing a medication from the formulary when other equally
effective medications are available.
What are Non Formulary Drugs?
The drugs that are not listed in the Drug Formulary are referred as Non Formulary Drugs. The
Non formulary drugs are made available in the hospital in special circumstances, when all
other available drugs are used and failed to illicit any response. The attending consultant can
fill out the Non formulary drug request form countersigned by the relevant Chief of Services
and sent it to the pharmacy. The Non drug formulary request form should include duration of
treatment, dosage form, and strength along with literature in support of drug ordered. The
pharmacy will try to make available the ordered drug within 72 hours if possible. If drug needed
to be ordered from overseas, may require some additional time.
Can I get a hard copy of the Drug Formulary?
For a printable version of Drug Formulary please contact Bahamas National Drug Agency,
Market & McPherson Streets, P.O. Box N - 8200, Nassau, Bahamas.(Tel. 242 3286664)
What is a generic drug?
Every drug has two names, one is the generic, or chemical name and the other is the brand
name. The brand name is given by the manufacturer to call the product. Every drug has a
generic name to describe its chemical makeup (whether it's currently available in the market as
a generic or not).
Why are generic drugs less expensive than brand-name products?
When a company develops a new drug, it has a patent for many years. The patent protects
the drug company's right to be the only manufacturer of that drug. After the patent expires,
other companies can then manufacture and sell the drug under either a different brand name
or the generic name. Because of lower research costs and greater competition, generics are
sold at a lower price than the original brand-name product.
Who manufactures generic drugs?
Many drug companies that manufacture brand-name products also manufacture generic
products. And many companies that manufacture generic products also manufacture drugs for
the brand-name companies. Most of these companies hold FDA license and also comply with
ISO and GMP regulations.
What should I know about my prescription?
What the prescription is for? How should I take the medication? What are the side effects?
Can I take this medication with several other medications? It is extremely important that you
should fill all your prescriptions at one pharmacy for this reason.
What should I do if I miss a dose of my medication?
Instructions for what to do under these circumstances vary by medication. Please check with
your pharmacist for specific instructions on your medications.
Do I take my medication with or without food?
Each medication will differ as to whether it should be taken with or without food. Auxiliary labels
are frequently placed on your prescription bottle to help you understand your specific
situation. Also, patient information slips are provided with each prescription for your reading. If
you still not satisfied with the information, consult the pharmacist.
When do I take my prescription medication?
Check the auxiliary labels or direction on the label or consult with your pharmacist for specific
information on what is best for your prescription drug.
Where do I store my medication?
Medications should be stored in a cool dry place, away from sunlight. Medications such as
insulin should be kept cool (not frozen) and not subjected to direct sunlight. Special storage
instructions are printed on the labels. If you have questions about prescriptions, please consult
pharmacist.
Inpatient Pharmacy
Who receives services from the Inpatient pharmacy?
· Patients who are hospitalized and receiving care on the wards.
· Patients who are discharged from the wards and hold currently dated prescriptions.
Medication for Discharged Patients
Medication for discharged patients can be collected from in patient pharmacy upon
presentation of a relevant prescription. Only currently dated discharge patient medication is
supplied from Inpatient pharmacy. Nurses and other staff on the unit can collect discharge
medication for their patients.
Emergency Supply of Medication
Emergency supply of medications is made available at DOCUMED, a cupboard kept in
Accident and Emergency Department after pharmacy hours. This applies mainly for the period
between 5:00pm - 8:00am every day. During this period, emergency medications should be
collected from DOCUMED, if drugs that are not available in DOCUMED, the on call pharmacist
can be reached by paging though the operator.
Telephone numbers:
Pharmacy: 242.322.2861 Ext. 2357/58
Reception: 242 322 2861 Ext. 2656
