Overview of the historical development and analysis of the stages of introduction of clinical pharmacy in Bulgaria

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a dynamic shift in the pharmaceutical profession towards a more clinical orientation. From a focus on the drug as an object of the pharmaceutical system and its action, there was a smooth transition to optimizing therapy through the rational use of medicines. Thus, the individual characteristics of the patient are the leading factors in the choice and management of pharmacotherapy. Clinical pharmacy is a scientific, educational, and professional field that combines the provision of services by pharmacists to patients and other medical professionals. Many sources suggest that clinical pharmacy originated in the United States of America (USA) between 1944 and 1946, although there is evidence of earlier activity. From then on, a chain of events began that gave real meaning to the modern pharmaceutical profession. There have been few attempts to map the historical evolution of clinical pharmacy in Europe, but not in Bulgaria. This is important because clinical pharmacy is considered an essential prerequisite for the advancement of pharmaceutical care—the latest achievement of pharmaceutical science. In Bulgaria, over the last ten years, clinical pharmacy has seen rapid development. Many changes have been made to legislation relating to clinical pharmacists, clinical pharmacy services, and the practice of the profession in hospital care settings. As a first attempt to scientifically track and analyze the development of clinical pharmacy in Bulgaria, it is important to evaluate what has been done in order to outline the steps and direction for its further consolidation and development in the country. Therefore, our research will try to describe and analyze the main stages of the development of clinical pharmacy in Bulgaria to better understand the processes that take place in modern pharmaceutical practice.