title: Future expectations for Japanese pharmacists as compared to the rest of the world.
abstract: It is important to share information about other countries' pharmacists to optimize cross-border medical cooperation. This paper examines the dispensing systems and the work done by pharmacists in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Thailand, and Malaysia so as to compare these countries' medical practices and develop a cohesive vision for the future of Japanese pharmacists. All five of the countries have dispensing assistants. Pharmacists in Japan have duties of inventory control, drug dispensing, and providing medication advice. In contrast, assistants working in other countries are responsible for some aspects of dispensing and inventory control, allowing the pharmacists to spend their time and competency in instructing patients on how to take their medication. Because of this, pharmacists were actively involved with health promotion intervention in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. It is hoped that work done by Japanese pharmacists would transition from primarily dispensing drugs to patient care, advice, and counseling to enrich overall health promotion and health/nutrition counseling.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado-shi, Saitama 3500295, Japan. Electronic address: yinoue@josai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado-shi, Saitama 3500295, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado-shi, Saitama 3500295, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takikawa
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado-shi, Saitama 3500295, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takao
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado-shi, Saitama 3500295, Japan.
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kanamoto
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado-shi, Saitama 3500295, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugibayashi
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D003376:Counseling; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D009313:National Health Programs; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000458:organization & administration; D010595:Pharmacists; D010596:Pharmacy Technicians
keywords: Dispensing system; Health promotion; Pharmacy assistant; Role of the pharmacist; Team medical care