ACCESSIBLE

Community pharmacists across Europe practise in premises which provide convenient access for people in city and town centres, residential and rural areas, and close to physician practice premises. It is always easy to find a pharmacy.

People know that, without the need to make an appointment, they have already access in a familiar, relatively informal environment, to expert knowledge about medicines and helathcare generally.

TRUSTWORTH

People trust the advice they receive from pharmacists. Wherever surveys have been carried out in EU countries, pharmacists are placed top or very close to the top of professional considered most trustworthy.

PROFESSIONAL

Traditionally, Community pharmacists have provided two equally important professional services. The first is a comprehensive high quality service incorporating the accurate and timely dispensing of prescriptions written by medical practitioners and other health professionals. At every stage in the process, the safety of the patient is the first priority. The second professional service is the provision of sound, objective, advice on self-care and, when appropriate, responsible self-medication. In both services, advice is given to ensure that the patient understands how best to use the medicine to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome.

These key services will remain at the core of the range of professional services provides by Community pharmacists.

AN EXPANDING ROLE

Nowadays however, people are living longer and most older people need medical care. Many illness previously treatable only in hospital can now effectively dealt with in a primary care setting. The increase in demand for healthcare and movement to primary care for treatment has led governments and health insurers to recognise the need, in this sector of healthcare, to utilise, to maximum effect, the skills and expertise of all health professionals, including Community pharmacists.

Against this background, the range of professional services available from Community pharmacies, building on these core roles, is expanding, to the benefit of citizens.