Community Pharmacy in Europe

In Europe, pharmacies are places where the public can get medicines. This however, is the only common denominator. In the past, pharmacy revolved around the manufacture and provision of medicines, rather than on those who consumed them. However, in the latter half of the twentieth century extemporaneous preparations largely disappeared in many European countries, such as Denmark, Greece, Portugal and Sweden. 

In the Netherlands they currently constitute 5.3% of all dispensed medicines. In the 1960s and 70s the focus of pharmacists’ activities shifted towards an increased emphasis on the effects of medicines, namely clinical pharmacy. This change happened throughout Europe, although the pace of change differed between countries.

Pharmacies in Europe differ considerably in terms of size, staffing and the services provided, reflecting the independent development of health care across Europe. Before discussing these elements, this chapter will explore some of the factors which serve to explain these international variations. 

The availability of medicines varies throughout Europe, due to differences in the registration procedures and policies of their pharmaceutical industries. However, the introduction of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medical Products (EMEA) in 1993 will increasingly reduce this variation between countries belonging to the European Union, although national authorities still have some power under the so called decentralised procedure. The EMEA’s new system for the licensing of medicinal products was introduced in 1995.

In most European countries only physicians, dentists and veterinary practitioners are permitted to prescribe medicines. However, Irish pharmacists have prescribing rights and in the UK it has been proposed that limited prescribing rights be extended to nurses and pharmacists (Crown 1999)

Salam

by Umaee

source: pharmacy practice

image: sumienie-farm.pl

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