Dear colleagues, we know that deductions are made by the SSI (SGK) on the grounds of non-compliance with SUT rules for prescriptions containing “Compounded Formulas” that lack the note stating ’10-day treatment dose’ at the bottom of the formulation. In practice, pharmacists face difficulties explaining this situation to prescribing physicians when this phrase is missing, and physicians sometimes refuse to write this note because they consider the formulation they prescribe to be inherently therapeutic. It is often not possible to explain that a note stating ‘for therapeutic purposes’ must be added under an ear drop prescribed for an “Otitis” diagnosis or a formulation containing codeine prescribed for a cancer patient, which leads to unnecessary physician-pharmacist disputes.
In addition to this, leaving the term ’10-day dose’ to the personal interpretation of our colleagues who review prescriptions at the SSI, along with differing evaluations depending on the province they serve, causes it to be seen almost as a “trap phrase” resulting in deductions for pharmacists. Fearing deductions, pharmacists exercise their own initiative on incoming prescriptions to scale down the formulations, thereby shortening the duration deemed necessary by the physician for the patient’s treatment, to the detriment of the patient.
This issue presents itself not only as an inconvenience that victimizes the pharmacist, but also as a problem that restricts the patient’s right to proper treatment as a result of reductions made by pharmacists due to concerns over deductions.
We expect the SSI to resolve this issue as soon as possible through a regulatory arrangement.
Below, you will find the quantity tables required for topical application, as well as volume administration tables for compounded medications.
Wishing you a great week…
Tel: (332) 3520657
Fax: (332) 3512816
http://www.majistralformul.com/
Compounded Formulas, Deplazes / Gloor / Moll / Panizzon Copyright © 2010
Volume Applications
See ref. [198]
20 drops = Approx. 1 g for aqueous solutions
45-65 drops = Approx. 1 g for alcoholic solutions (tinctures)
1 teaspoon = Approx. 5 ml (4-6 ml)
1 dessert spoon = Approx. 10 ml (8-12 ml)
1 tablespoon = Approx. 15 ml (12-20 ml)
1 cup or glass = Approx. 150 ml (100-200 ml)
1 pinch = Approx. 100-500 mg powder [237]
1 g ointment = Approx. 3 cm ointment
1 Fingertip Unit (Adult) = 0.5 g ointment [241]
Body Fingertip Units
1 Hand = 1 Fingertip Unit
1 Arm = 3 Fingertip Units
1 Foot = 2 Fingertip Units
1 Leg = 6 Fingertip Units
1 Face = 2.5 Fingertip Units
1 Trunk (front and back) =14 Fingertip Units
1 Whole Body = 40 Fingertip Units
For 1 Bath (approx. 100 L) Concentrate = Approx. 5 to 10 ml (child)
For 1 Bath (approx. 200 L) Concentrate = Approx. 20-30 ml (Adult)
For 1 Sitz Bath (approx. 30-50 L) Concentrate = Approx. 2-5 ml
Spec. Pharm. Ahmet Nezihi Pekcan
Pekcan Pharmacy – Konya
[email protected]
Tel: (332) 3520657
http://www.majistralformul.com/
