Any generally accessible pharmacy could perform diagnostic tests for COVID-19

In reference to the signals and questions from pharmacists, the Minister of Health informs that, in accordance with the applicable factual and legal status, testing may take place in two rooms in the pharmacy's premises, i.e. in the pharmaceutical care room - located in the dispatch room or in a separate a room or in an administration and training room (potentially both, or only one of them).

The Ministry of Health would like to remind you that currently every generally accessible pharmacy has an administrative and training room, and thus - from the point of view of the premises requirements, any interested pharmacy could perform tests in this room without the need to adapt to the requirements of the premises itself pharmacies, and only after the introduction of an appropriate time division of the functions performed by the administration and training room and after the introduction of a written procedure specifying the method of access and use of this room, which guarantees patients safety and respect for intimacy and dignity, as well as uninterrupted performance of activities in other rooms of the pharmacy.

The Minister informs that these tests may be carried out under the conditions provided for pharmaceutical care in a pharmacy specified in the Pharmaceutical Law Act, i.e. with the guarantee of:

security:

• test takers
• people who are being tested
• people using other pharmacy services (purchasing drugs, vaccinations),
• pharmacy staff;
• requirements enabling the uninterrupted and safe performance of activities in other premises of the pharmacy;
• appropriate equipment for the pharmaceutical care room or the pharmacy's administration and training room, i.e. providing:
• treatment table arranged and equipped according to the scope of the tests or pharmaceutical care to be carried out,
• test execution kit,
• dressing kit,
• decontamination packages,
• personal protective equipment (aprons, masks, gloves) 3,
• battery-operated washbasins with hot and cold water, and if it cannot be installed - a mobile washbasin,
• liquid soap dispenser,
• disinfectant dispenser,
• disposable towel dispenser and used towel dispenser
• non-contact thermometer to measure the patient's body temperature prior to testing,
• computer equipment with Internet access and a printer,
• a place to leave the patient's outerwear for testing,
• containers for infectious medical supplies.

Notwithstanding the above, the minister informs that the requirement to equip a generally accessible pharmacy with washbasins with access to hot and cold water, in the event that the pharmacy is to carry out diagnostic tests for COVID-19, will also be met in the case of a mobile washbasin/portable (it does not have to be a fixed washbasin), which can also be located in the above-mentioned administration and training room.

Source: MZ