Compliance issues with the Personal Data Protection Act in Telepharmacy Service

Abstract

In the present day, pharmaceutical care services tend to change to tele-pharmacy. This service involves sensitive personal data that may be detrimental to clients. Tele-pharmacy service providers are required to comply with the Personal Data Protection Act. The purpose of this study was to analyze the implementation of the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 in the tele-pharmacy service of pharmacists. This study was a qualitative research, through in-depth interviews with 9 key informants, involved in tele-pharmacy services, who understood the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019). Research instrument was semi-structured interview. Data were analyzed by content analysis. The results indicated that the procedures for tele-pharmacy service must comply with the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019), such as always inform clients of service provider’s information. Always inform the objectives of personal data collection, and ask for consent before collecting data, or recording audio / video. The data controller was the pharmacy owners and the pharmacists. The pharmacy owners determined the data processor. The barrier to comply with the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019) was implementing security measures to obtain personal data. In conclusion, most tele-pharmacy service providers can comply with the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019). Therefore, policy makers should urgently develop guidelines for tele-pharmacy services related to the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019).