Interpretation on “technical specifications for dispensing commonly used chinese patent medicines in clinical emergency and critical care (powder)” and representative medicines

In January 2022, the China Association of Chinese Medicine released the group standard Technical Specifications for Dispensing Commonly Used Chinese Patent Medicines in Clinical Emergency and Critical Care-Part 9: Powder (T/CACM 1378.9-2022). The formulation of this standard is led by Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Standardization Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Dispensing at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, and the First Affiliated Hospital of Tsinghua University. This standard provides references and guidance for the dispensing techniques of commonly used Chinese patent medicines in clinical emergency and critical care from nine aspects: purchase and acceptance inspection, inventory management, prescription review, prescription dispensing, prescription verification, drug distribution and medication instruction, medication monitoring, prescription evaluation, and pharmacovigilance. This study provides detailed explanation on the background, significance, formulation process, and main technical contents of the group standard, aiming to help pharmacies of emergency departments and intensive care units in medical institutions of all levels and types across China to provide Chinese patent medicines in powder form for patients with emergency and critical conditions and standardize the workflow, infrastructure, pharmacist responsibilities, and technical requirements.