Potential roles of community-based pharmacists in assisting home-quarantined patients with COVID-19 in a resource-challenged setting

Objectives To present the experiences of community-based drug information centre (DIC) pharmacists assisting home-quarantined patients with COVID-19 in Indonesia. Methods A prospective case study included home-quarantined patients with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 contacting pharmacists at a DIC in Indonesia in July 2021. Patient characteristics, pharmacist interventions and outcomes were reported. Key findings Fifteen home-quarantined patients were screened for COVID-19 and were provided with follow-up services (i.e. medication review and monitoring). Worsening symptoms and/or reduction in oxygen saturation were reported in seven patients where a referral to medical services was made for them. Most patients recovered at follow-up (4–14 days). Conclusions Community-based DIC pharmacists potentially contributed to the frontline emergency response, as observed during the COVID-19 crisis in Indonesia.