Impact of pharmacist recruitment on ADR reporting: Malaysian experience

reporting rate is mainly due to reporting by pharmacists working in the public sector. Adverse drug reaction reports generated by pharmacists increased from 726 (28.5%) in 2006 to 3357 (57.4%) in 200911. On the other hand, the contribution by physicians towards ADR reporting was 22.9% in 200911. The increase in the number of reports submitted by pharmacists could be a reflection of the increase in pharmacists working in public hospitals. In Malaysia, the number of pharmacists working in the public sector increased from 889 in 2005 to 3877 in 200911. This is likely to be due to the Malaysian Ministry of Health’s requirement that before registeration with the Pharmacy Board of Malaysia, all pharmacist must complete a 4-year compulsory service in public sector. The aim of this initiative was to enhance clinical pharmacy services in public hospitals and health clinics in Malaysia. The involvement of hospital pharmacists in direct patient care appears to have triggered better detection, documentation and reporting of ADRs. The contribution of community pharmacists in ADR detection and reporting remains suboptimal and necessitates further education and training.