Exploring Consumer Views on the Community Pharmacists' Professional Role in Developing Countries about Complementary Medicine: A Qualitative Study

With the popularity of complementary and alternative medicine, community physicians and pharmacists are playing a more and more important role, and in this condition, to investigate general public perception towards the role of pharmacist in Developing Countries' healthcare system was the aim of this study. A qualitative approach was used. A total of 13 participants were interviewed using a semi- structure interview guide. All the interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed for its content. Arrangements for the time and place of interviews were made during the initial contacts. Written consent was duly obtained from each of the participants prior to the interviews. Thematic content analysis yielded five major themes: 1) awareness about pharmacist, 2) dispensing of medicines, 3) trend of self-medication, 4) presence of the pharmacist at community setting, 5) satisfaction towards the role of community pharmacists. Respondents highlighted the importance of having pharmacist in pharmacies, as their presence is important for good practice standard. These issues include awareness about the pharmacist, dispensing of medicines, trends of self-medications, and perception regarding community pharmacies in the country. Mixed perception was observed among the participants regarding the pharmacist's awareness. Few participants are highly dissatisfied towards the services provided by the community pharmacist current practice, one of the main reasons is they know that the person who is dispensing the medicines is unaware of the term medicines. The findings of this study conclude that in Pakistan the quality of pharmaceutical services provided is very low. There is a gap between the public and the pharmacist which can only be filled by creating awareness among public regarding the pharmacist's role in healthcare system and by focusing on how services provided by the pharmacists can add to general public health. The Government should take an active role in regulating the pharmacy practice within the country, and in promoting the standard of care for the community. When the pharmacists are present, they will ensure the quality of care in their pharmacies.