Role of pharmacists in the global healthcare system

World Pharmacist Day is celebrated on September 25 every year to promote awareness about the importance and role of pharmacists in today’s world

Pharmacists comprise the third-largest group of healthcare professionals  in the world and, over the past 50 years, the role of pharmacists has evolved along with the health care needs of our population. Today, pharmacists have extended their responsibility from dispensing to pharmaceutical care by maximizing the benefits of medications and their safety. In addition to dispensing medications and ensuring the safety and well-being of patients, pharmacists are assuming a larger role as medical counsellors, educators and advocates.

Let’s have a look at  the dynamic role of pharmacists vis-à-vis the global healthcare care system:
 

1) Recognizing pharmacists as part of the public health workforce

Formal recognition of pharmacists by associations and governments in developing countries as part of the public health workforce can give pharmacists the confidence to act in a global health context. With the global health workforce shortage and lack of appropriately-trained providers in limited-resource settings, maximizing the skills and knowledge of pharmacists can fill gaps in care and provide a platform for different levels of professional development, including global health engagement.
 

2) Incorporate global public health principles in pharmacy education

While pharmacists have the technical skills and competencies based on medication expertise to contribute to global health efforts, they often lack the foundational public health knowledge needed to fully exploit their skills as global health practitioners. To implement public health services, students should be appropriately trained in basic public health competencies to effectively manage the health of a community, the essentials of program planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The complementary knowledge and skills in public health can empower pharmacists to serve as global health leaders in their community and abroad.
 

3) Utilize implementation science methods in pharmacy across limited-resource settings

Implementation science is understanding how to translate evidence into everyday practice and can be utilized across public health issues from medication safety to mobile health. Implementation research for strengthening pharmacy systems and delivery processes in developing countries can help provide the data needed for government leaders to support the integration of pharmacists into public health services. As pharmacists develop their niche within global public health, there will be the need to understand how and why pharmacy services can improve the health and well-being of societies throughout the world in resource-limited settings.