"Community pharmacists in Europe are committed to making a major contribution to improving public health by:

• seeking to ensure that people derive maximum therapeutic benefit from prescribed medication dispensed in pharmacies
• providing high quality advice to ensure safe and responsible self-care including, where appropriate, self-medication
• encouraging healthy lifestyles through effective health promotion and health education strategies"

"Community pharmacists will achieve these goals by:

• ensuring the dispensing process is of the highest quality and includes the provision of all necessary advice and information about medicines dispensed
• co-operating with physicians and patients to ensure that medication is effectively managed to secure the desired outcome from the patient
• protecting public health by resisting inappropriate promotion and distribution of medicines and any other activities which would undermine effective systems governing marketing authorisations that ensure safety, quality and efficacy of medicines in the public interest
• contributing to measures to ensure that the most effective use is made of available government and other third party funding for medicines
• providing sound, objective advice on the treatment of common ailments
• participating with other health professionals in campaigns designed to encourage healthy lifestyles and advising individuals in appropriate circumstances
• ensuring that the network of pharmacies provides convenience and quality of access for members of the public seeking a pharmaceutical service and that the service provided meets the expectations of the public in relation to environment, atmosphere, privacy and the friendly approach of members of staff
• participating in continuing professional development to ensure the constant updating of knowledge on new and existing medicines and treatments in order to maintain pharmacists’ position as experts on all aspects of medicinal products"