Operacao Luz Verde: A new light for patients during COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Background: During coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, avoiding hospital visits only to obtain medication was crucial to protect patients and to ensure hospital responsiveness. Portuguese pharmacies have national coverage. Purpose(s) To establish a nationwide response that allows patients to receive their specialty medicines (SM) in a community pharmacy of their convenience or at home, ensuring treatment continuity and avoiding unnecessary travelling to and from a hospital. Method(s) Community pharmacies, hospitals and pharmaceutical wholesalers collaborated in a structured, multidisciplinary operation, involving healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical stakeholders, endorsed by Pharmaceutical and Medical Societies Operacao Luz Verde (OLV). Hospitals, patient associations, community pharmacies and patients themselves can ask for the dispensing of SM at a community pharmacy. Requests are received by a pharmacist specialised support line (LAF), which ensures communication between all stakeholders. Hospital pharmacists prepare the medicines and wholesalers provide transportation to ensure good practice. Community pharmacists scheduled for medicines to be dispensed with patients, ensuring electronic records and reports of eventual problems were sent to the hospital. OLV is free of charge for patients and hospitals, at least until the end of May 2020. Result(s) From the 23rd March until the 15th May 15, 12,229 patient requests were approved by a total of 33 hospitals;2,189 participating pharmacies and 20 patient associations endorsed the initiative. Final results will be presented at a later date. Conclusion(s) Community pharmacies may have an important role in the dispensing of SM. OLV may improve access to these medicines and reinforce potential for reducing inequities.