From Dispensing to Direct Patient Care: A Review of Pharmacy's Expanding Responsibilities

Abstract

Pharmacists are integral to modern healthcare, responsible for drug preparation, compounding, dispensing, and providing counsel to both healthcare professionals and the public. The scope of pharmacy practice has expanded to encompass advanced medical sciences, including innovation, life support, and research. This review examines the evolving role of pharmacists in today's dynamic health systems and pharmaceutical industry. Specifically, it analyzes current pharmacy roles, with a focus on community pharmacy's distinct characteristics, and identifies necessary policy adjustments for 2023 and beyond. A four-phase approach was employed: comprehensive literature review, business analysis of pharmacy roles, external stakeholder validation, and synthesis of findings relevant to the future of pharmacy. Data sources included literature databases, reports, and websites to identify existing roles, facilitators, and future policy directions. Disease profiles, service demand, and baseline data were analyzed to assess role relevance. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to project future demand and resource utilization for chronic disease patients. Potential facilitators for pharmacy services, such as monitoring and predictive models, and enablers for future research were also explored.