Role of a Pharmacist

While responsibilities vary among the different areas of pharmacy practice, the bottom line is that pharmacists help patients get well. Pharmacist responsibilities include a range of care for patients, from dispensing medications to monitoring patient health and progress to maximize their response to the medication. Pharmacists also educate consumers and patients on the use of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, and advise physicians, nurses, and other health professionals on drug decisions. Pharmacists also provide expertise about the composition of drugs, including their chemical, biological, and physical properties and their manufacture and use. They ensure drug purity and strength and make sure that drugs do not interact in a harmful way. Pharmacists are drug experts ultimately concerned about their patients' health and wellness. The principal goal of pharmaceutical care is to achieve positive outcomes from the use of medication which improves patients' quality of life with minimum risk. Pharmacists strive to
• Cure disease;
• Eliminate or reduce symptoms;
• Arrest or slow a disease process;
• Prevent disease; Diagnose disease; and
• Alter physiological processes for desire