PURPOSE: The aim of our research is to study the role and responsibilities of the hospital pharmacists in conducting clinical trials in Bulgaria.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A special questionnaire was developed in the Faculty of Pharmacy, MUSofia. A total number of 30 hospital pharmacies were contacted and included in the study. Three of them refused to take part in the survey. The interview was via phone and included 4 questions (3 closed and 1 open). Mainly the head hospital pharmacy manager of the participating health institutions was interviewed.
RESULTS: Analysis of the results shows that current practice in Bulgaria allowed hospital pharmacists to be involved in clinical trials but this case is not prevalent. The majority of the trials, conducted in our country that includes hospital pharmacies were with narcotic investigational products, which according to the specific local legislation can only be located at the site of the hospital pharmacy in a special metal shelf box. However there are lots of trials conducted without participation of hospital pharmacist/research pharmacist.
CONCLUSION: The participation of the hospital pharmacist can be extended - to help manage adverse events, monitor the effect of the drugs under the study and awareness for the drug-to-drug interactions. There are protocols where apart from the investigational product - there are non-drugs under the study, i.e. placed on the market which should be dispensed at the beginning of the trials during the washout period and again here is the place for the research pharmacist to control these non-investigational products.
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