What Is Pharmacy?
Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications to ensure safe and effective use of drugs. It is a miscellaneous science because it links health sciences with pharmaceutical and natural sciences.
Pharmacists are a vital part of the healthcare team and work closely with physicians to provide patient care. Their responsibilities include verifying prescriptions, informing patients of drug interactions, counseling patients on how to take their medication and providing vaccinations. They also provide advice on general health issues, such as diet and exercise.
A pharmacist can perform several simple health care procedures, including measuring your blood pressure and temperature, and testing your blood sugar levels. They can also advise you on how to prevent and treat common illnesses like the flu, colds, aches and pains and other minor ailments. If they think your condition is more serious, they can refer you to a doctor.
Increasingly, pharmacies are becoming a hub for community healthcare services. They can provide immunizations, offer advice on over-the-counter medicines and help with a range of other issues, such as healthy living, smoking cessation, and weight loss. Some pharmacies also have extended opening hours and are open on Sundays.
Pharmacy is a highly respected profession that requires considerable training and specialized knowledge. In most countries, pharmacists must be licensed to dispense medications. Licensing requirements vary by country, but generally pharmacists must graduate from a pharmacy school, meet specific education and experience requirements, pass a national exam and a state or provincial licensing examination. Many also have to complete continuing education courses to maintain their license.
Online pharmacies are a growing industry, and they may be independent internet-only sites, websites that operate as branches of traditional “brick-and-mortar” pharmacies or sites representing a partnership among pharmacies. Some online pharmacies sell only prescription drugs, while others also offer over-the-counter medications. In some countries, it is illegal to sell certain types of drugs without a valid prescription.
A few important things to remember about online pharmacies:
Legitimate pharmacies display their licenses in prominent places on their websites. They will also have secure payment systems and will only sell products that are approved by the local regulatory authorities. Be wary of any website that claims to sell unlicensed or counterfeit medications. Also, be careful when purchasing from sites that do not clearly explain the shipping and returns policies. In the United States, you can check whether an online pharmacy is legitimate by contacting your state’s Board of Pharmacy or visiting the FDA’s website. The FDA offers an online database of registered pharmacies. This database is updated daily and is searchable by state, city, or zip code. In addition, the database contains detailed information about each registered pharmacy, including contact details and license number. In some cases, you can even see a photo of the registered pharmacist. The database can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection.
Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications to ensure safe and effective use of drugs. It is a miscellaneous science because it links health sciences with pharmaceutical and natural sciences. Pharmacists are a vital part of the healthcare team and work closely with physicians to provide patient care. Their responsibilities include verifying prescriptions, informing patients of drug interactions, counseling patients on how to take their medication and providing vaccinations. They also provide advice on general health issues, such as diet and exercise. A pharmacist can perform several simple health care procedures, including measuring your blood pressure and temperature, and testing your blood sugar levels. They can also advise you on how to prevent and treat common illnesses like the flu, colds, aches and pains and other minor ailments. If they think your condition is more serious, they can refer you to a doctor. Increasingly, pharmacies are becoming a hub for community healthcare services. They can provide immunizations, offer advice on over-the-counter medicines and help with a range of other issues, such as healthy living, smoking cessation, and weight loss. Some pharmacies also have extended opening hours and are open on Sundays. Pharmacy is a highly respected profession that requires considerable training and specialized knowledge. In most countries, pharmacists must be licensed to dispense medications. Licensing requirements vary by country, but generally pharmacists must graduate from a pharmacy school, meet specific education and experience requirements, pass a national exam and a state or provincial licensing examination. Many also have to complete continuing education courses to maintain their license. Online pharmacies are a growing industry, and they may be independent internet-only sites, websites that operate as branches of traditional “brick-and-mortar” pharmacies or sites representing a partnership among pharmacies. Some online pharmacies sell only prescription drugs, while others also offer over-the-counter medications. In some countries, it is illegal to sell certain types of drugs without a valid prescription. A few important things to remember about online pharmacies: Legitimate pharmacies display their licenses in prominent places on their websites. They will also have secure payment systems and will only sell products that are approved by the local regulatory authorities. Be wary of any website that claims to sell unlicensed or counterfeit medications. Also, be careful when purchasing from sites that do not clearly explain the shipping and returns policies. In the United States, you can check whether an online pharmacy is legitimate by contacting your state’s Board of Pharmacy or visiting the FDA’s website. The FDA offers an online database of registered pharmacies. This database is updated daily and is searchable by state, city, or zip code. In addition, the database contains detailed information about each registered pharmacy, including contact details and license number. In some cases, you can even see a photo of the registered pharmacist. The database can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection.