From ancient times, medicines have been used to treat diseases. Earlier, medicines were prepared from plants, animals and minerals. These medicines were compounded and supplied by specially trained people called apothecaries.
Today, with the availability of modern ready-made medicines, the compounding work of pharmacists has reduced. Pharmacists mainly focus on dispensing medicines and providing patient-focused services. Around the world, community pharmacists have gained recognition because they are the most accessible health care professionals.
Definition of Community Pharmacy
Community Pharmacy is a place where medicines are stored and dispensed to patients based on a valid prescription, and where certain medicines can also be sold without a prescription as allowed by law.
A Community Pharmacist is a trained, licensed health care professional who supplies medicines correctly, provides proper usage information to patients and doctors, and helps prevent drug-related problems through counseling and clinical services.
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes a community pharmacist as a vital link between the prescriber and the patient.
Scope of Community Pharmacy
The term “profession” refers to a field that requires specialized knowledge and skills. A “professional” is someone who uses that knowledge to serve people.
In the health field, different professions have different levels of autonomy:
- Nursing works under doctors → an example of subordination.
- Dentistry and Pharmacy have specific areas of focus → examples of limitation.
- Some alternative systems lack formal recognition → examples of exclusion.
Earlier, the medical profession dominated health care roles. But over the years, other professions including pharmacy are gaining independence and playing stronger roles in patient care.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Community Pharmacist
According to the WHO Consultative Group and International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the major responsibilities of a community pharmacist include:
1) Processing of Prescriptions
The pharmacist must carefully check prescriptions for legality, correctness, and safety. They look for possible drug interactions, wrong doses or unclear instructions before dispensing.
2) Dispensing
Dispensing means preparing and giving medicines to the patient. Today, most medicines are available in ready-made packaged forms, so the pharmacist must ensure every prescription item is labelled with:
- Patient’s name, age and gender
- Medicine name and strength
- Dosage instructions
- Prescriber’s name
- Pharmacy details
3) Patient Counseling
Many patients do not know how to use their medicines properly. Doctors may not always have enough time to explain everything. This creates an important opportunity for the pharmacist.
Patient counseling means explaining the disease, medicine usage, precautions, diet advice and lifestyle changes in simple language so that the patient understands and follows the treatment correctly.
4) Drug Information Services
Every year new medicines enter the market, and information given by pharmaceutical companies may be biased. The pharmacist provides unbiased, evidence-based drug information using:
- Primary sources (research journals)
- Secondary sources (databases like Micromedex, IDIS)
- Tertiary sources (textbooks, compendia)
5) Health Promotion
Pharmacists can guide the public about healthy lifestyle practices. Examples include:
- Smoking cessation programs
- Family planning advice
- Vaccination awareness
- Nutrition and deworming advice
6) Health Screening Services
Community pharmacists may offer basic screening for early detection of chronic conditions such as:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Asthma
This helps in early diagnosis and reduces complications.
7) Responding to Minor Ailments
Pharmacists are easily approachable for common health problems like:
- Cold and cough
- Diarrhea
- Body aches
- Sprains and spasms
They can suggest safe over-the-counter medicines when appropriate.
8) Consultation to General Practitioners
Pharmacists may guide patients to doctors when needed and provide drug information support to clinics and nursing homes.
In countries like Australia, pharmacists participate in Home Medication Review (HMR) programs to identify drug-related problems and improve patient outcomes.
Additional Information: Pharmacy as a Profession
Pharmacy has evolved over time. Earlier, pharmacists mainly prepared medicines. Today, due to industrial manufacturing, pharmacists focus more on dispensing and patient care.
Reports like the Nuffield Inquiry (1986) emphasized the need for better clinical involvement by pharmacists. Clinical pharmacy has helped pharmacists gain recognition as key members of the health care team.
International Scenario of Community Pharmacy
Globally, the role of pharmacists has shifted from simply supplying medicines to providing patient-centred care.
Examples from developed countries:
- USA: Smoking cessation programs, diabetes and BP screening, family planning education.
- UK: Public health education, cholesterol screening, dental health awareness.
- Australia: Home Medication Reviews, screening clinics, disease management support.
Indian Scenario of Community Pharmacy
In India, community pharmacies are commonly known as “Medical & General Stores.” Legally, all dispensing must be done by a Registered Pharmacist under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
However, challenges still exist:
- Minimum qualification is D.Pharm, lower than many developed countries.
- Pharmacists are often not physically present in pharmacies.
- Prescription filling is frequently done by unqualified staff.
- Pharmacy is still treated as a trade instead of a patient-care profession.
To improve the system, there is a strong need to strengthen professional skills, clinical knowledge and patient-focused services among pharmacists.
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