In the past the major role of the Pharmacists was to give the medicines prescribed by the doctors. With the change in time, the rules and regulation or the pharmacists are also changing.

According to Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), now the pharmacists will connect with the patients in the counseling sessions, will undergo refresher courses, will undergo to conduct health education and will now undertake pharmacy epidemiological studies.

The PCI has enforced new regulations for the pharmacists which will improve the quality of healthcare, makes sure that the pharmacists should always maintain high standards in their duty and should curb abuse of medicines. Those pharmacists who has proper registration number will be involved in the counseling.

Role of Pharmacists in Society

Pharmacist responsibilities include a range of care for patients, from dispensing medications to monitoring patient health and progress to optimize their response to medication therapies. Pharmacists also educate patients on the use of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, as well as provide population based care in institutional settings.  Pharmacists educate and advise physicians, nurses, and other health professionals on medication therapy decisions. Pharmacists also provide expertise about the composition of drugs, including their chemical, biological, and physical properties and their manufacture and use. They ensure drug purity and strength and make sure that drugs do not interact in a harmful way. Pharmacists are medication experts ultimately concerned about their patients’ health and wellness.

Role of community pharmacist

There are nearly 6.5 lakhs of pharmacy or drug store in the country but is hardly any culture of community pharmacy. This is culture of rocket science but is more of patient care.

A Community Pharmacist is the professional who would be in direct access to the public and whose duties are widely sought after by the public and patients. He dispenses medicines with a prescription and in certain cases without a prescription where applicable (OTC drugs). As he is the person who will be in direct contact with the public, he has to play an important role in decreasing the mortality and morbidity in the public. Community pharmacy practice evolved in the post Second World War period. A pharmacist not only began to perform functions that were new to pharmacy, but they began to innovate functions and make original contribution to literature. The popular motto of “patient oriented practice” and “drug use control” came into practice. But unfortunately the role of community pharmacist is not so much recognized till today especially in India and needs strong efforts.

But with the change in the government rules and regulations, now the pharmacists will take a step ahead while giving away the medicines to the people. During that time the pharmacists can counsel the patients with providing them the proper information about the medicines.

Principal
Dr. Surendra Lalwani
Metro College of Health Science and Research
[email protected]
+91-9818852222
Plot No-41, Knowledge Park-III, Greater Noida, U.P. 201306