Review article

Role of the Pharmacist in Pharmacotherapy Counselling

Maja Jakševac Mikša

Abstract

Due to changes in health-care systems, the
role of pharmacists has also undergone substantial changes
in recent years. The present-day pharmacists’ responsibilities
are based on the World Health Organization resolution „The
role of pharmacists in supporting the new drug strategy“,
which emphasizes the pharmacists’ duty to give evidencebased
and objective advice on drugs and drug use, promote
the concept of pharmaceutical care aimed at a more rational
drug use, and take an active part in disease prevention and
health maintenance. In this way, the pharmacist becomes an
indispensable member of the health team and takes the part
of the responsibility for pharmacotherapy outcomes and the
quality of life of the patients. His role should be clearly defined
in the health-care system and national drug policy of all countries.
As the last health professional in the health-care chain
that the patient contacts before starting pharmacotherapy, the
pharmacist should ensure the safest and most efficient way of
using the prescribed drugs. In the today increasingly present
self-medication as part of self-care, counselling with pharmacists
has a very important role because patient treatment is
most often carried out without consulting a physician.

Keywords

drug use; drug dispensing; counselling; pharmaceutical care; self-care; self-medication

Hrčak ID:

19944

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/19944

Publication date:

13.2.2002.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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