The Research Strategy for Rational Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Services guides research
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Pharmacotherapy is an important part of health care and the treatment of nearly every patient. Pharmacotherapy is rational when it is effective, of high quality, safe, equal and economical. Well-functioning pharmacotherapy is a prerequisite for rational pharmacotherapy. The development and enhancement of rational pharmacotherapy and pharmaceutical services require research built on a robust strategy and clear objectives.
On 5 December 2024, the Research Network for Rational Pharmacotherapy (RATTI) published the updated Research Strategy for Rational Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Services, which guides research by describing the research areas and prerequisites for research. The RATTI network’s task force was responsible for updating the research strategy, including representation from the University of Helsinki, HUS Pharmacy, the University of Eastern Finland, Kela, the wellbeing services counties and Fimea, whose representative chaired the task force. Other stakeholders also had the opportunity to comment on the text during the strategy process.
Visibility to cooperation in the vision and objectives of the research strategy
The vision presented in the Research Strategy for Rational Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Services is that research on rational pharmacotherapy and pharmaceutical services will be systematic and respond to the identified needs of medicine users and the health and social services system. Research data is also used in the development of the service system and services, impact-based steering and political decision-making.
According to the objectives guiding the implementation of the vision, research and development activities are an operational part of the health and social services system, and research and development work is carried out in cooperation between different stakeholders. Research is also effective, correctly targeted and proactive, and research in key research areas, resourcing of research and the usability of data sets will be strengthened. In concrete terms, this means, for example, strengthening cooperation between researchers and those responsible for research in the wellbeing services counties, increasing dialogue between decision-makers, medicine users and researchers, actively communicating research results, establishing increasingly multidisciplinary research consortia and applying for funding from new channels.
The three research areas of the Research Strategy for Rational Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Services are:
- The research related to structures and operational preconditions, whose themes focus on e.g. pharmaceutical services in various health and social services environments, the pharmacotherapy competencies of health and social services professionals as a foundation for rational pharmacotherapy, and information systems in the implementation of rational pharmacotherapy.
- The research related to the promotion of medication safety, whose themes focus on research in the health and social services operating environment, the pharmacotherapy process and the users of medicines in the implementation of pharmacotherapy.
- The effectiveness in the use of medicines and pharmacotherapy, whose themes consist of the use and costs of medicines, pharmacovigilance and economic evaluation and effectiveness.
The research strategy guides the development of more rational and patient-oriented pharmacotherapy and pharmaceutical services. It provides a direction and objectives that help to plan the allocation of research resources and increase cooperation between different stakeholders. To ensure the achievement of the objectives, monitoring data is needed, which is a prerequisite for the knowledge-based management of rational pharmacotherapy and pharmaceutical services. Research data is an important part of the national knowledge base. Research data can be used to develop better medicinal treatment practices, improve patient safety, prevent and solve the problems and adverse effects of medicinal treatment, and improve the efficiency of pharmaceutical service processes.