Abstract:

Many patients consult the pharmacists about their illness as well as the drugs they use; thus, it is essential to provide a good pharmacy practice and thus promote rational use of medicines. In the last century pharmacy profession consisted of compounding and dispensing medicines. As the compounding functions were significantly reduced recently, a new role was developed for the profession. The role of today's pharmacists needs to be expanded to include pharmaceutical care concepts, turning the pharmacist into a healthcare professional rather than a shopkeeper in a commercial enterprise. The mission of the pharmacy practice must be to provide medication as well as other health care products and services, and to help people and the society to make the best use of them. It also involves identifying, resolving and preventing drug-related problems, as well as encouraging proper use of medications, and general health promotion and education, thus improving clinical outcome of the treatment.

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