Record to progress

Community pharmacists are healthcare professionals with enormous potential to improve drug use (for example, by detecting negative results), to prevent diseases and to promote public health. The development and boost of professional pharmaceutical services (PFS) can undoubtedly have a decisive role in consolidating this potential permanently, by obtaining the recognition of the entire healthcare system, including healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, specialized doctors, etc.) and Management and, naturally, the patients. The role of pharmacists and their healthcare functions have traditionally been well regarded. However, the integration of the assistance activities of community pharmacies in the National Health System (NHS) can, at the very least, be improved; also, some opinions occasionally question the scientific and assistance work of pharmacies or raise doubts about their ability to be full members of the healthcare teams that must cooperate to improve patient healthcare.