In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI) is predicted to cause a shift and perhaps reshape the future of pharmacy practices. To further understand this potential shift, we’ve jumped on an interview with seasoned pharmacists to form a comprehensive understanding of AI’s integration into the pharmacy field.
Their collective wisdom offers a unique perspective on the transformative potential, challenges, and opportunities that AI presents in the realm of patient care. Join the journey as Amrahi Buang, President of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) and Lim Jack Shen, Secretary of MPS illuminate the path where technology and pharmacy seamlessly converge, setting the stage for an innovative era in healthcare.
1Twenty80: Can you provide an overview of how AI is currently being used, and how it has impacted the field of pharmacy?
Amrahi Buang & Lim Jack Shen: The use of AI in pharmacy is still at its infant stages but the areas where AI is particularly useful includes application in analysing data such as in medication management and personalised medicine. In addition, AI chatbot can also assist in customer management and advice (for example, persistent 24 hour chatbot linking patient to pharmacy). Lastly, AI can also be used to monitor patient health outcome and improving pharmacy supply chain management.
1Twenty80: Are there specific sectors within the pharmacy field where AI proves to be most beneficial?
Amrahi Buang & Lim Jack Shen:
- Medication Management.
- Supply Chain Management.
- Patient/Customer service.
1Twenty80: Are there any significant shifts in the responsibilities of pharmacists as a result of AI?
Amrahi Buang & Lim Jack Shen: To date AI is mostly used as a support to pharmacists – but moving ahead they can be used to automate repetitive pharmacy tasks such as prescription checking, drug interactions and pharmacogenomics or reviewing polypharmaceutical drug profiles. Ultimately the decision making responsibility remains with the pharmacist.
1Twenty80: Are there any concerns or limitations a pharmacist may encounter while using AI in pharmacy practice, and how can a pharmacist address them?
Amrahi Buang & Lim Jack Shen: It is important to remember that any current AI use is only to improve the speed of work by a pharmacist in pharmacy practice. Over-reliance on AI without exercising decision making erodes professional independence. Therefore, a pharmacist must remember that the ultimate responsibility in patient care remains with the pharmacist.
1Twenty80: Has AI influenced the way pharmacists interact with other healthcare professionals to provide better patient care? If so, please explain how.
Amrahi Buang & Lim Jack Shen: Not yet, however, the acceptance of a common AI platform can simplify interaction with other healthcare professionals. In addition, narrow AI platforms (for example, facial recognition and more), improves security of health data and this allows for safer sharing of information between health professionals.
1Twenty80: What training and resources are available to pharmacists for effective AI use in their daily work and staying current with AI advancements?
Amrahi Buang & Lim Jack Shen: At this juncture, in Malaysia it is still very limited. Advise is to keep up with current digital news and attend Continuing Professional Developments (CPDs) in the areas of health technologies. For future pharmacists (students), introduction of AI in the curriculum may be beneficial.
1Twenty80: In the context of AI, what advice or recommendations would you give to pharmacists looking to embrace and integrate AI into their practice?
Amrahi Buang & Lim Jack Shen: Remember that AI, like any other technology, is there only to assist pharmacists in our work. Ultimately, decision making, liability and responsibility still lies with the pharmacist.
1Twenty80: How do you envision the continued growth and evolution of AI in the pharmacy field, and what potential benefits or challenges do you foresee?
Amrahi Buang & Lim Jack Shen: In the future, we hope that AI can make therapy more personal to the patient and that big data generated from our health facilities can be mined to provide better data for our health professionals to act on in diagnosis (for the doctors) and treatment (for pharmacists).
Highlights From The Interview
#1: Infancy
- AI in pharmacy is still in its early stages.
- Key uses include analysing data for medication management and personalised medicine.
#2: Beneficial AI Sectors in Pharmacy
- AI helps in Medication Management, Supply Chain Management, and Patient/Customer Service.
#3: AI as Pharmacist’s Support
- AI supports pharmacists by automating tasks like prescription checking and drug interactions.
- Pharmacists retain decision-making responsibility.
#4: Caution against Over-Reliance
- Over-reliance on AI erodes professional independence.
- Pharmacists must remember ultimate responsibility in patient care rests with them.
#5: Limited Influence on Interactions
- AI hasn’t significantly changed how pharmacists interact with other healthcare professionals.
#6: Limited Training Resources
- Pharmacists are advised to stay informed through digital news and attend CPDs.
- Suggestion to introduce AI in the curriculum for future pharmacists
#7: AI as Assistant, Not Decision-Maker
- AI is an assistant, not a replacement for pharmacists.
- Pharmacists retain decision-making, liability, and responsibility.
#8: Future Vision for AI in Pharmacy
- Anticipation of continued adoption of narrow AI technologies.
- Hope for AI to personalise therapy, utilising big data for enhanced diagnoses and treatments.
