pharmacist

A pharmacist is a health professional who specializes in medications and their use. Pharmacists provide pharmaceutical care by ensuring safe, effective, and economical use of medicines. They work across settings such as community pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, long‑term care facilities, pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, and academic institutions.

Education and licensing typically require a degree in pharmacy (for example, Doctor of Pharmacy, PharmD, in the United States; Bachelor of Pharmacy or Master of Pharmacy in other regions), supervised practical training, and a licensure examination. Many jurisdictions also require ongoing continuing education to maintain licensure and stay current with advances in therapeutics and safety.

Responsibilities include dispensing prescriptions and reviewing orders for accuracy, verifying patient information and potential drug interactions, and counseling patients on indications, dosing, administration, storage, potential adverse effects, and adherence. Pharmacists provide medication therapy management, monitor outcomes, and collaborate with prescribers to adjust regimens as needed. They may also participate in pharmacovigilance, adverse event reporting, compounding or preparing medications, providing sterile products, and contributing to vaccination programs where permitted.

Specializations and settings cover a wide range: community pharmacists focus on direct patient care and over‑the‑counter medicines; hospital pharmacists work within care teams in acute settings; other roles include clinical pharmacy, industrial or regulatory affairs, academia, and government service. Technology such as electronic prescribing, drug-information databases, and automated dispensing systems shapes daily practice.

Public health and ethics are integral, with pharmacists upholding patient confidentiality, promoting rational drug use, and ensuring safety and quality standards while collaborating with other health professionals to improve therapeutic outcomes.