Module 2: Attributes and Roles of Pharmacists

The Ten Star Pharmacists

In 2004, the World Pharmacy Educators Congress was held in New Orleans with the aim of
preparing a standard Pharmacy curriculum. However, because of the diversity of the needs of
different countries, the body agreed to come up with the 7-star pharmacists which are
enumerated below. In addition, 3 more attributes were added in the Philippines by Dr. Olivia
Limuaco, Dean of School of Pharmacy of Centro Escolar University then.

Pharmacists are medication experts. This expertise includes the preparation, control, use, and
assuring desired outcomes of medicines in patients, beginning with drug discovery and
continues through their benefit to society.

Future pharmacists must possess specific knowledge, attributes, skills, and behaviors that
support this expertise.

1. Care-giver - Pharmacists must provide caring services of the highest quality and view their
practice as integrated and continuous with those of the health care system and other
professionals.

2. Decision-maker - a pharmacist’s work revolves around accurate decisions made or taken

regarding appropriate, efficacious, safe and cost-effective use of resources. A pharmacist must
possess the ability to evaluate, synthesize data and information and decide upon appropriate
course of action.

3. Communicator - Pharmacists must provide a link between physicians and patient, and to
other health care providers. He/ she should have complete knowledge about all the
pharmaceuticals with recent updates and be confident. He/she must possess good and effective
communication skills.

4. Leader- creates an idea/vision and motivate others team members to achieve the vision.
Encourage constructive differences. Mission-driven without being egocentric. Experts in
demonstrating and creating high performance pharmacy practices by high quality patient care,
improved medication safety and maximum productivity.

5. Manager - Ability to manage the natural and commercial resources which include manpower,
physical and financial resources. He/ she must assume greater responsibility for managing the
drug label information, ensure the quality of pharmaceuticals and maintain clinical competency
and function in patient care activities. Develop and maintain department policies and
procedures, goals, objectives, QA programs, safety and environmental and infection control
standards.

6. Life-long-learner -update knowledge and skills in order to keep up with the current trends in
issues related to drug therapy management.

7. Teacher - assist education and training of future generations of pharmacists and the general
public.
8. Entrepreneur – the pharmacist must learn how to make market survey in the chosen area,
plan, direct, manage a new pharmacy business.

9. Researcher – the pharmacist must conduct research that will investigate new molecules,
design new models of practice, introduce new pharmacy services, share best practices in
pharmacy etc.

10. Agent for positive change- the pharmacist must be the lead in creating change in
pharmacy practice to improve patient care, pharmacy services and inter-professional
collaboration.

FUNCTIONS OF A PHARMACIST

As per the new Pharmacy Act of 2016 (RA 10918), the scope of the pharmacy
practice/functions of the pharmacists are divided into exclusive and non-exclusive.
Types of Drug Establishment and Outlet Where Pharmacist is Required

There are two categories of establishments where the pharmacist could practice his/her
profession.

• Category A - Pharmaceutical establishment/outlets where the direct and immediate

control and supervision of a duly registered and licensed pharmacist is required, per
establishment, whether in-store or online

• Category B - Pharmaceutical establishments/ outlets where the supervision and

oversight of a duly registered and licensed pharmacist is required under pertinent
provision of law

Pharmacists who are working fulltime in Category A:

-allowed to handle only 4 category B outlets outside of their fulltime works.
Pharmacists in category B:
-allowed to handle a maximum of 15 category B outlets. However, he is not allowed to handle
any category A outlet. A pharmacist is required to visit and supervise the Category B 2 hours in
a week. A duplicate copy of his license with the schedule of visit per outlet must be hanged in
each of category B outlet. Pharmacist is expected to be in the specific outlet based on specified
date and time to avoid any violation during inspection.

Income Classification for Municipalities

Municipalities are divided into income classes according to their average annual income during
the previous four calendar years:

Class Average annual income in Php

First At least 55,000,000
Second 45,000,000 – 54,999,000
Third 35,000,000 – 44,999,000
Fourth 25,000,000 – 34,999,000
Fifth 15,000,000 – 24,999,000
Sixth At most 14,999,000