Role of Pharmacists in Disease Prevention
Most of us have a general perception about pharmacists - that they provide services such as dispensing and prescribing medications, as well as informing patients about the drugs and their usage.
But is it true that the role of a pharmacist is limited to dispensing and prescribing medications?
In this article, we will explore the various important roles that pharmacists perform to help prevent disease. While it's true that pharmacists assist us in understanding our medication and its correct dosage, as well as prescribing and dispensing medication, their role goes beyond that.
Pharmacists play a crucial part in eliminating severe diseases in society by providing key public health services such as vaccinations, point-of-care testing, and chronic and acute disease prevention and management.
In addition to managing medication and prescribing and dispensing medications, here are some other crucial roles that pharmacists perform:
Guiding patients with the usage, storage, etc. of their prescribed drugs.
Educating people about Sexually Transmitted Diseases like HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, etc.
Providing diet counseling and correcting bad food habits with a nutritive diet.
Organizing free tests/check-ups and awareness campaigns on special occasions.
Provide immunization
Conduct health and wellness screenings.
It's important to understand that pharmacists do not only work in drug stores. There are different types of pharmacists and they work in association with various institutions, healthcare facilities, consultancies, specialty clinics, hospitals, primary care physicians, and many other organizations. Pharmacists provide their services at various points of need based on their experience and work profile.
Community pharmacists work in close vicinity of the general public, such as retail stores like chain drug stores. They also provide services such as point-of-care testing, even in remote locations. They also answer questions about over-the-counter (OTC) medications and address any other health concerns a patient might have.
Clinical pharmacists work in professional settings such as hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare settings. They are involved in direct patient care rather than just prescribing drugs, and they work with doctors and other members of the healthcare team.
Consultant pharmacists provide healthcare advice and work with healthcare companies and insurance providers on patient medication use. They also collaborate with healthcare systems to improve pharmacy and other healthcare services.
Industrial pharmacists work in the pharmaceutical industry and are involved in tasks such as research and development, clinical trials of drugs, sales and marketing. They are also responsible for establishing safety guidelines for new drug development.
References:
1. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacists
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24786-pharmacist
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564913/
