Development Strategy of Integrative Pharmacy

Abstract

Integrative pharmacy is proposed owing to the increasingly profound understanding in complex diseases. It involves new drug research and development, innovation of traditional Chinese medicine, clinical practice of drugs, construction of the pharmacy discipline, cultivation of pharmaceutical professionals, and many other fields. To promote the practice of integrative pharmacy in China, this study clarifies the concept and connotation of integrative pharmacy and proposes future development strategies for integrative pharmacy. The research methods we used in this study includes literature research, academic exchange, and expert consultation. To integrate modern and traditional pharmacy, we suggest that clinical practice guidelines for integrative medication should be established and improved, innovative research of traditional Chinese medicine based on integrative thinking should be encouraged, and clinical application of Chinese and western medicine should be integrated and standardized. To promote the new drug research and development based on integrative pharmacy, the design idea of integrative drugs should be innovated, a drug evaluation system that adapts to integrative pharmacy should be developed,and a new drug development system should be established for integrative drugs. To promote the clinical application of integrative pharmacy, patient-centered clinical medication guidance should be further improved, individualized treatment should be encouraged, the clinical practice content of integrative pharmacy should be enriched, and the rational application of integrative drugs should be emphasized. To promote the construction of the integrative pharmacy discipline, the theoretical and practice curricula for undergraduate education should be enriched based on integrative pharmacy, and educational training and professional collaboration should be strengthened. Integrative pharmacy develops based on the theories and practices of modern pharmacy and integrates the theories and practices of all related disciplines of pharmacy. It is a new pharmacy theory and practice system that can promote human health and improve the existing medical system in China.

Keywords

• integrative pharmacy, integrative drugs, new drug development, drug evaluation, clinical medication guidance