Pharmacists play a critical role in the public health of a country, they provide a range of services that go beyond dispensing medication. While this has not always been the case, pharmacy practice and education have continually evolved to meet the needs of the public.

Pharmacists today are tasked with ensuring safe and appropriate medication therapy and providing more direct patient care than ever before.

What are the Public health services that pharmacists provide?

These days, pharmacists routinely provide an array of services in various roles:

Academics

Pharmacists serve in teaching roles where they not only educate future pharmacists but also future doctors, nurses, and physician associates. 

Drug development

Pharmacists oversee the safety of clinical trials, write regulatory submissions, and provide pharmacovigilance services to detect potential adverse effects or risks of medications.

Expert advisors

Pharmacists in Nigeria serve on advisory committees for the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Agency for Food Drug Admin and Control, and the Institute of Human Virology (IHVN), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to mention a few.

Medication safety

Pharmacists are involved in medication safety to a certain extent, but there are also pharmacists who work full-time to prevent medication-related harm.

Medication therapy management (MTM)

MTM helps patients make the most of their medication therapy by ensuring they understand their medicines, and how to take them. MTM also ensures that all of its providers have a full medication list.

Wellness services

Pharmacists now provide blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, dispense birth control, and even perform blood sugar tests.

Pharmacists have evolved from just dispensing medication to taking responsibility for medication outcomes, protecting public health, improving access to healthcare, and reducing costs.

With services like MTM, pharmacogenomics, and vaccines, pharmacists truly do provide care. The future of pharmacy depends on the ability of pharmacists to be recognized and reimbursed for the comprehensive services they provide.

Powered by Froala Editor