PHARMACY (SHOP)

GREEN CROSS IS THE SYMBOL OF PHARMACIES.

A pharmacy (also called "drugstore" in American English or "community

pharmacy" or "chemist" in Commonwealth English) is a retail shop which
provides pharmaceutical drugs, among other products. At the pharmacy,
a pharmacist oversees the fulfillment of medical prescriptions and is available to give
advice on their offerings of over-the-counter drugs. A typical pharmacy would be in
the commercial area of a community.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD PHARMACY

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy recommends that

consumers choose a pharmacy at which they can have a consulting relationship with
the pharmacist. Anyone using drugs benefits when they have easier access to a
pharmacist. Being timely includes both processing the request quickly and having
drug stock available to fill the prescription. Some consumers need drugs delivered to
their home, perhaps by mail, and may select a pharmacy which offers that
service. Different pharmacies may charge different prices for the same drugs, so
shopping for lower prices may identify a pharmacy offering better value. In addition
to fulfilling prescriptions, a pharmacy might offer preventive healthcare services like
vaccinations. Up-to-date technology at a pharmacy can assist a patient with
prescription reminders and alerts about potential negative drug interactions, thereby
reducing medical errors.
DUTIES

The International Pharmaceutical Federation has declared their vision of a

community-based pharmacist:

An expert in pharmaceutical care, pharmacotherapy and health promotion

A professional communicator with patients, other healthcare providers and

decision makers

Deliver high quality products, services and communication

Document their work and communicate the outcome to professional colleagues.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Community-based pharmacists' responsibilities include: checking and

dispensing of prescription drugs, providing advice on drug selection and usage to
doctors and other health professionals and counseling patients in health
promotion, disease prevention and the proper use of medicines.

In most countries regulations govern how dispensaries may operate, with

specific requirements for storage conditions, equipment and record keeping.

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

A survey conducted by Prescribe Wellness found that almost half of Americans

older than 40 years-old value pharmacies that offer preventative care services, and
would be willing to transfer their prescriptions to pharmacies that offer those
services. Patients also value pharmacies where they can receive medical advice
concerning their prescription medications, how those medications may interact with
each other, and receive over-the-counter drug recommendations for the management
of common ailments. In a survey of over 1,000 U.S. adults older than 40 years-old
conducted by Propeller Insights, 67% of patients responded that they would prefer that
their pharmacist discuss new prescriptions with them, rather than their physician,
because they viewed their pharmacist as "better at explaining side effects and has
more time to spend with them."
REFERENCES

Jump up to:a b c d e f "Pharmacy Buying Guide". Consumer Reports. May 2016.

Retrieved 13 February 2017.

 "Community Pharmacy Section". International Pharmaceutical Federation

(FIP). Retrieved 8 July 2014.

 "What pharmacists do and where they work". Pharmaceutical Society of

Australia. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.

  "Pharmacy". Scottish Government. Retrieved 8 July 2014.

  "Careers in pharmacy: Pharmacy roles: Community pharmacy". Royal

Pharmaceutical Society (RPS). Retrieved 8 July 2014.

 "How the health system is skewed towards harm for pill-popping pensioners".
EconoTimes. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.

 "About community pharmacy". Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating

Committee. Retrieved 30 November 2015.

 "Digital hospital-to-pharmacy referral service delayed by six further weeks".

Pharmaceutical Journal. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2021.

  "About Community Pharmacy". Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating

Committee. Retrieved 8 July 2014.

  "Pharmacy in Europe: France". Employed community Pharmacists in Europe

(EPhEU). Retrieved 8 July 2014.

  "News from UK". Employed community Pharmacists in Europe (EPhEU).

Retrieved 8 July 2014.

  "Independent Pharmacy Today". National Community Pharmacists

Association. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  Gauld, Natalie (8 December 2010). "Sun, surf, snow and pharmacy- pharmacy
practice in New Zealand". PJ online. Retrieved 8 July 2014.

  "Principles for Community Pharmacy Agreements". Pharmaceutical Society of

Australia. Retrieved 8 July 2014.

CLINICAL ROLES

It is becoming more common for pharmacists to take on extended roles that

provide more clinical care directly to patients as part of a primary care team. There are
around 11,400 community pharmacies in England. Many are open for extended hours
in the evenings and weekends and they are accessible without appointment.