The Community Pharmacist – A Health Gatekeeper
Beyond simply dispensing medicine, today’s community pharmacists have become “community health gatekeepers,” on the front lines of early disease detection, guiding safe medication use, and disseminating health knowledge to the public.
This was the key message shared at the seminar “Community Pharmacist – A Health Gatekeeper” organized by Dan Tri newspaper in collaboration with Pharmacity.
According to Pharmacist Nguyen Van Tien Duc, Pharmacy Director of the Pharmacity system, society’s perception of the pharmacist’s role has significantly shifted. If people previously visited pharmacies merely to “buy medicine,” now they seek “consultation” – from how to use medication, to diet, to regular health monitoring.
“Pharmacists not only provide medicine but are also the closest healthcare professionals to the people. They interact with hundreds of customers daily, witnessing many different health stories, thereby contributing to early detection of disease risks and helping people prevent illness,” Pharmacist Duc shared.
In practice, many large pharmacy chains like Pharmacity have implemented a “community pharmacy” model, where people can have their blood pressure and blood sugar measured, receive medication counseling, and guidance on health monitoring completely free of charge.
This is not only a professional activity but also a way for pharmacists to enhance their communication skills, active listening, and humane conduct in patient care.
Common Medication Mistakes of Vietnamese People
Based on observations from the Pharmacity pharmacy system, Pharmacist Nguyen Van Tien Duc noted 6 common groups of errors people make when self-medicating. These mistakes not only directly affect treatment effectiveness but also cause many potential long-term health complications.
1. Self-prescribing and inappropriate drug combinations
According to Pharmacist Duc, this is the most common error. People often rely on personal experience or online searches to choose medication. Simultaneously using multiple drugs from the same group or those with interactions easily leads to overdose, side effects, or reduced treatment effectiveness.
A typical example is when people self-purchase antibiotics to treat common colds, whereas most colds are viral and do not require antibiotics. “Using antibiotics in this case neither cures the illness nor increases the risk of antibiotic resistance,” Pharmacist Duc analyzed.
At pharmacies within the Pharmacity system, pharmacists are thoroughly trained in identifying prescription drugs and the refusal-to-sell protocol when customers do not have a doctor’s prescription.
“We don’t just stop at refusing; we must clearly explain the reason and provide correct information so people understand why they shouldn’t use it,” Pharmacist Duc stated.
2. Stopping medication early or not completing the full course
The second common mistake is discontinuing medication once symptoms improve. Pharmacist Duc said this is especially dangerous for chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, or infectious disease treatment regimens.
“Patients often think that once symptoms are gone, they are cured, but in reality, the pathogen may still be present. Stopping medication early causes the disease to relapse and worsen.
Some recorded cases show diabetic patients arbitrarily reducing doses or abandoning medication when blood sugar stabilizes, leading to cardiovascular complications. The pharmacist’s role in this case is to monitor, remind, and help patients maintain treatment on schedule,” the expert added.
3. Reusing old prescriptions or someone else’s prescription
Many people have a habit of keeping old prescriptions to “reuse when needed” or borrowing prescriptions from relatives. According to Pharmacist Duc, this behavior poses significant risks because each person has a different constitution and underlying medical conditions.
“Even if symptoms are similar, the cause can be completely different. Reusing an old prescription can lead to incorrect diagnoses or interactions with other medications being taken,” Pharmacist Duc explained.
From operational experience, the Pharmacity pharmacy system has implemented a process for storing customer information in electronic profiles, allowing pharmacists to track medication purchase history and warn of potential interactions if patients use multiple different products. This is an important step to ensure safe and individualized medication use for each patient.
4. Abusing pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroids
It has been noted that pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs are among the most abused types.
“Patients often tend to use them long-term to reduce symptoms, unaware that some drugs can cause liver, kidney, or stomach damage if used uncontrolled,” Pharmacist Duc shared.
He also noted the situation where people use corticosteroid-containing drugs to treat inflammation, allergies, or reduce acne without monitoring.
“Corticosteroids are a double-edged sword. Short-term use can be effective, but prolonged use can cause adrenal insufficiency, hypertension, osteoporosis, and metabolic disorders,” the expert clarified.
To mitigate this risk, community pharmacies are instructed to carefully check drug ingredients when customers request them, and suggest safer alternatives if possible. Pharmacity currently applies an automated lookup system that warns of drug groups containing high-risk active ingredients to assist pharmacists in counseling.
5. Ignoring post-treatment instructions and follow-up appointments
Not only do people make mistakes when buying medicine, but many are also negligent after treatment, failing to follow up or adhere to prescribed medication regimens.
“Some people use blood pressure or diabetes medication for years without getting re-checked. When pharmacists discover this, they must subtly remind and direct them to a specialist,” Pharmacist Duc said.
Some pharmacies within the Pharmacity system have implemented a “post-purchase follow-up” model via automated messages or direct consultation, helping people remember follow-up and refill times. This measure not only helps patients maintain correct treatment but also reduces pressure on higher-level healthcare facilities.
6. Lack of knowledge about drug-food interactions and lifestyle habits
An often-overlooked factor is the interaction between drugs and food. Pharmacist Duc said that some drugs, when taken with milk, orange juice, or green tea, will reduce the absorption of active ingredients.
“For example, tetracycline antibiotics, if taken with milk, will complex with calcium and reduce effectiveness. Or blood pressure medication, if taken with alcohol, can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure,” the expert analyzed.
Therefore, counseling on nutrition, medication timing, and accompanying lifestyle is a crucial part of modern pharmacy operations.
Tips for Safe Medication Use
Based on practical experience in consulting and training pharmacists within the Pharmacity pharmacy system, Pharmacist Nguyen Van Tien Duc believes that raising community awareness about correct medication use needs to start with three factors: knowledge, attitude, and cooperation between the public and pharmacists.
According to him, most medication errors stem from complacency and a lack of accurate information.
Pharmacist Duc recommends that when experiencing unusual symptoms, people should consult a pharmacist or doctor before purchasing medicine.
Pharmacists at reputable pharmacies today are well-trained in clinical pharmacy, capable of identifying drug interactions and advising on appropriate usage for each individual.
Asking questions and discussing directly with pharmacists helps patients better understand the causes, usage, and potential risks of each type of medication.
From a community perspective, he believes pharmacies need to promote their role as the public’s first point of contact for healthcare.
“Many people are reluctant to see a doctor but are willing to go to a pharmacy. If each pharmacist spends a few extra minutes consulting, asking about medical history, and giving clear instructions, that is already a very effective preventive action,” Pharmacist Duc shared.
In recent years, Pharmacity has implemented a “community pharmacy” model, expanding the role of pharmacies from sales points to basic health consultation points.
Here, people can have their blood pressure, blood sugar measured, receive medication counseling, nutrition guidance, and have their electronic health records maintained.
“Thanks to this, we can warn of potential drug interactions, monitor each customer’s medication use process, and remind them to follow up or adjust when necessary,” Pharmacist Duc noted.
This model not only benefits patients but also helps reduce the burden on higher-level healthcare systems, especially for chronic diseases requiring long-term monitoring.
“A pharmacist at a pharmacy counter, if performing their duties correctly, can help detect many health problems early, from hypertension to diabetes, before they become severe diseases,” he added.
