COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines for Pharmacy Personnel in King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was announced in Wuhan City (China) on 31st December 2019, pharmacists worldwide have been playing a vital role in minimizing the adverse effects of the pandemic on healthcare systems. Objective: The guideline aims to provide clear, relevant, and comprehensive instructions for pharmacy staff on how to manage different medication processes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This editorial discusses the development of a guideline named “CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines for Pharmacy Personnel in the Hospital Setting” by Pharmaceutical Care Services in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Result: Pharmaceutical Care Services established the guideline in March 2020, which was then updated in June 2020 by Pharmaceutical Care Services in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to respond rapidly to the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to manage medication processes during the COVID-19 pandemic and monitor the implementation overall the hospital. Conclusion: This guideline is a reliable and comprehensive source of information and can be implemented by any pharmacy department within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and internationally. To the best of our knowledge, this work might be the first in the field of management of medication processes.