Pharmacists contribute to the safety of medicines

Abstract

Pharmacists have a professional obligation in medicine. As a member of a medical team to provide a safe medication, it is important that they be involved with drug safety in mind. Currently a pharmacist in a business operating with a focus on traditional dispensing and drug administration also functions with a focus on patient care and the provision of drug information. It is important that a pharmacist has a risk management approach to medicine. Together with the institutions responsible for drug safety, he must be cognizant of published reports to prevent serious adverse drug reactions as well as taking part in post-marketing surveillance. Management of safety information for high-risk pharmaceutical drugs, also falls to the pharmacist. Thus he must have knowledge of the skill required for the job of each member of the health care team. Recent newly added responsibilities are: advice in planning patient treatment, checking vital signs and the prescription brought to him to fill. In short a pharmacist working in the medical field must, above all, respect and assure safety to the patients he serves. © 2011 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.