“Pharmacist?
Medicine Seller? Ya… ya…, I know!”
Many of us may not really know the roles of a pharmacist.
I remember it was quoted somewhere that “Pharmacy
is a practice and art of preparing and dispensing
drugs,” and “pharmacists are the health
professionals who perform the art”.
Traditionally, pharmacists
receive medical prescriptions and dispense the medication
to the patients providing consultation accordingly
to ensure the safety use of these medications. As
we approached the 21st century, the roles of pharmacists
have evolved into wider scopes and it depends on
the branch of the profession they are in.
In the community, pharmacists
also participate in disease state management,
for instance, diabetes and hypertension, to optimize
and monitor drug therapy often in collaboration
with physician and/or other health professionals.
Pharmacists, an important
source of medical knowledge, also act as an informed
intermediary between patients and healthcare providers
to ensure that proper medical therapy is chosen
and delivered. Do not hesitate to consult your pharmacists
if in doubt of your medications and regimens;
The pharmacists are always there for you.
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