Opportunities and barriers to implementing COVID-19 testing in community pharmacies

ABSTRACT

Background: The World Health Organisation sent a clear message to the world, to 'test, test, and test' for early identification, isolation, and limiting the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Dismal testing rates have been the biggest barrier to understanding the spread of this disease. Community pharmacists and pharmacies provide an accessible and reliable avenue to increase testing rates. Purpose(s) To identify opportunities and barriers to implementing COVID-19 testing in community pharmacies. Method(s) Review of worldwide literature from 2019 and onwards was completed to review guidance documents and expert opinions on COVID-19 testing by community pharmacists. Result(s) So far, only 32 states in the USA have provided community pharmacists with the independent ability to order and administer COVID-19 tests in community pharmacies. Opportunities are fast and reliable access to testing;improved testing rate, data collection, and patient-pharmacists relationships;provide personalised follow-ups and new services;and leverage opportunity for future government collaboration. Barriers are government buy-in, regulations and bylaw compliance, training, personal protective equipment, staffing needs, workflow optimisation, processes for collaboration with public health authorities, and pharmacists' willingness. Conclusion(s) COVID-19 testing in community pharmacies can improve testing rates, and provide new avenues to collaborate on public health initiatives. There is a scarcity of evidence and literature around this topic and future work should explore success of testing in community pharmacies, and pharmacists and public perceptions of provision of such services in community pharmacy setting.