Abstract

PRACTICE OF COMMUNITY PHARMACY IN INDIA PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Shweta Sharma* and Anuj Nautiyal

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Abstract

Community pharmacists now play a significant role in every nation as they take charge of patients' needs for access to healthcare related to their use of medications. However, in India, a community pharmacist's primary duty still consists of supplying patients with medications. Patients are still barely the focus of the majority of community pharmacies nationwide. The significant increase in domestic drug production and national healthcare spending may influence the role of pharmacists in the community and, consequently, how they handle medications. This article outlines education, training, and future possibilities for Indian community pharmacies, the majority of which are privately owned. To better train pharmacists for their duties and responsibilities in an increasingly complicated health care setting with sophisticated patient health requirements, pharmacy education is constantly evolving. The pharmacists themselves are a crucial component. The function of pharmacists has changed over the past 50 years as a result of the population's changing healthcare needs. Today's pharmacists play a bigger role as medical advisors, educators, and activists in addition to administering prescriptions and maintaining patient safety. They are among the most dependable and approachable healthcare experts and a vital element of the medical team. Due to their increased accessibility, they are able to provide more patient care services, such as counselling, medication management, and screenings for preventative care. Pharmacists have extended their influence to have an impact on community public health in addition to the care they deliver to specific patients. Every person who takes medication runs the possibility of experiencing actual or potential drug therapy issues. When these issues go unnoticed and untreated, they significantly increase the risk of morbidity and mortality and place a considerable financial burden on the health care system. As experts in drug therapy, pharmacists offer drug therapy management services that are based on collaboration with the patient (or his or her carer), doctors, and other healthcare professionals.

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