Abstract

JJ, Sánchez-Ramos. Military Pharmacy in health crisis due to COVID-19. Sanid. Mil. [online]. 2020, vol.76, n.2, pp.96-105.  Epub Feb 01, 2021. ISSN 1887-8571.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/s1887-85712020000200009.

The Ministry of Defence's Pharmaceutical Services have the task of directing organisms and facilities of the pharmaceutical services, the supply and maintenance of medical materiel, the formulation of technical specifications, the cataloguing of pharmaceutical products, the analysis of chemical, biological and toxicological products as well as health protection in nuclear, biological and chemical environments. Through the different structures of the Armed Forces in which pharmaceutical officers are integrated, all available capabilities have been utilized in order to respond to the recent health crisis COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2. As such, this has been carried out in the planning and execution of Operation Balmis, under the authority of the Chief of Defence Staff (JEMAD in Spanish) and the Commander of the Operations Command (CMOPS in Spanish), with tasks such as providing pharmaceutical information and advice. On the other hand, the Military Pharmacy has focused its efforts on military manufacturing and logistics of pharmaceuticals and medical materiel following the criteria of effectiveness and efficiency required in these unprecedented circumstances, covering the entire process from the management of acquisition or production, to distribution or dispensation both within the Armed Forces, and in requests for support made by civilian authorities in matters of health. Finally, the diagnostic capabilities of laboratories with a pharmaceutical presence has been enhanced, new detection techniques for the viral agent have been implemented and new biochemical parameters related to COVID-19 have been included in the service portfolio. The new magnitude of pharmaceuticals and medical materiel involved in this health crisis has highlighted the need to constitute a national strategic pharmaceutical stockpile, for a joint Armed Forces Ministry of Health action.

Keywords : Military Health Corps; medical materiel; pharmaceutical products; COVID-19; Balmis; Military Pharmacy; manufacturing; logistics; management; acquisition; distribution; dispensation; Armed Forces; diagnostic capability; strategic stockpile.

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