Brown Bag Event @ NCC 2007
Written by:
Tan Yong Qiang, Pharmacy Student, National University of Singapore
Vivianne Shih , Pharmacist, National Cancer Centre
Alexandre Chan,Lecturer of Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore

The term “brown bagging” had been originally referred to carrying home-made lunch in a brown paper bag in the US. Since the 80s, “brown-bag assessments” or “brown-bag reviews” where a doctor or a pharmacist reviews a patient’s drugs have become common. The patient typically gathers all their prescription and over the counter medications/supplements and takes them to a pharmacist for review, whereby the pharmacist will identify problems such as improper dosing, lapsed expiry dates, drug mismatches, compliance issues, spotting of duplicate medications as well as poorly stored medications. The pharmacist will then follow up by counseling the patient on appropriate medication usage and will refer the patient back to his physicians for review when necessary.

Our cancer patients are often taking multiple medications during and after chemotherapy treatments and/or radiotherapy symptom management or for co-morbidities such as diabetes or hypertension. Often these patients receive consultations from multiple oncologists and general practitioners for different medical conditions and may lead to duplications in drug therapies. In addition, many patients are over 65 years old and are forgetful, which may contribute to poor compliance to medications or inappropriate usage. Brown bagging hence steps in conveniently to allow pharmacists to give sound, professional advice to patients, therefore greatly increasing the success of medication therapy.

Two brown bag events are scheduled for 9 th and 30 th June 2007 and this event is co-organised by the student body from Emed, Voluntary Wing of NUSPS (National University of Singapore Pharmaceutical Society) and a total of around 80 students from the Department of Pharmacy will be assisting the pharmacists in National Cancer Centre. Emed has been actively involved in brown-bag events for the past year and has so far launched two successful brown-bag events among other activities.

Patients who are interested can enquire and sign up with the pharmacists located at the Retail Pharmacy, Level 1, National Cancer Centre.