OBJECTIVE  To study the basic strategies suitable for the development of current drug therapy clinics in China and to provide reference for the development of drug therapy clinics in tertiary hospitals.

METHODS  SWOT analysis was applied to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats faced by drug therapy clinic in Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University in the context of health insurance payment reform for chronic airway disease management.

RESULTS  The pharmacotherapy clinic in the hospital where the author was located had the following strengths in carrying out the management of chronic airway diseases: the management of chronic airway diseases has been carried out for many years; increasing demand for pharmacy services from physicians; having a separate consultation room and being open all day on weekdays to meet patients' needs. However, there were also the following weaknesses: patients' recognition and awareness of pharmacists are not high, and there is an acceptance process for fees; some physicians are not aware of the existence and service scope of the pharmacy clinic; there is a gap between the pharmacist's clinical knowledge base and clinical practice. The opportunities provided by the external environment include: national policies driving the development of pharmacy clinics; support from local medical security bureaus; increasing demand for pharmacy services from patients; and improving patient satisfaction with medical services. However, it also faced the following threats: new things, systems and systems are not well developed; prescriptive authority restrictions; high manpower costs.

CONCLUSION Pharmacists in medication clinics should make full use of the advantages and opportunities, overcome the disadvantages and threats, and improve the quality of services in medication clinics in general.