Alphega Pharmacy member

Gertjan Hooijman, a pharmacist at an Alphega Pharmacy in Asten, The Netherlands, is one of the pioneers of pharmacogenomics carried out in a pharmacy setting. He has been offering the innovative test in his pharmacy since 2017. In this Q&A, Mr Hooijman shares with us his views on the future on pharmacy and pharmacogenetics testing.

What inspired you to become a pharmacist?

I was interested in healthcare from a young age and loved in particular the aspect of helping others. The combination of my interest in healthcare, innovation and science eventually lead me to the role of a pharmacist.

What do you think makes community pharmacy so important?

Healthcare is increasingly organised around the patient’s needs, and efficiency is key. The community pharmacy offers this by being an accessible first port of call for healthcare enquiries. The pharmacist and their team are therefore well-positioned to provide this primary access to healthcare.

What inspired you to start pharmacogenetics in your pharmacy?

Some time ago, I had several patients who were responding negatively to their medication. That’s when I found out that a pharmacogenetics difference in the action of diverse CYP enzyme system can cause variation in blood levels and thereby causes severe side effects or in some cases, no action from the drug.

Every person has unique DNA. In some cases, differences in DNA can lead to differences in how individuals respond to the same medication. A medication that works well for one person may not be effective for another, and may cause unwanted side-effects in a third. Based on this, pharmacogenomics is an obvious and necessary step to help improve adherence and effectiveness of medication in patients.

What were some of the most successful outcomes?

One of my patients was suffering from severe depression. The prescribed medication did not work and even aggravated the situation. Thanks to a pharmacogenetics test, I was able to establish that the patient was intolerant to certain substances. By adjusting the medication in consultation with the GP (general practitioner), a new therapy was prescribed that proved successful. As a result, the patient noticed an improvement in their condition.

How do you see the role of a pharmacist evolving in the near future?

I believe that the pharmacist will become fully established as a first port of call for healthcare in the community and will be recognised as a healthcare professional with speciality in pharmaceutical therapies, diagnostics and healthy lifestyle advice.