Ricardo Said:

What is the role of pharmacists?

We Answered:

Pharmacists supervise pharmacy technicians and ensure that the medicines are dispensed correctly. They also provide information to patients and customers.

Before filling prescriptions, pharmacists check the patients’ medical histories. This is important because the pharmacists need to make sure that patients are not allergic to the medication and are not taking any drugs that might interfere with their new prescriptions. Next, they tell patients how and when to take the medications. They also warn them of possible side effects and answer any questions they might have.

If a patient encounters any serious problems with medication, a pharmacist should be able to identify the nature of the problem and decide how to deal with it. This requires an in-depth knowledge of chemistry, biology, and medicine. Pharmacists are expected to know all the answers—or at least where to look them up.

Most pharmacists work in retail stores and hospitals. In addition to the duties mentioned above, both retail and hospital pharmacists supervise pharmacy technicians. Many also have to oversee the business side of running the pharmacy. For example, they make sure that the pharmacy is well stocked and that the medications are properly handled and stored. Pharmacists who work in hospital settings may also be involved in clinical research and public education projects.

Some pharmacists work for companies that manufacture and produce medicine—pharmaceutical companies. Their duties usually involve controlling the production of the medicine. They check all the ingredients and the procedures that are used in the manufacturing process.