title: 'Pharmacists have been left out of the loop': exploring the role of pharmacists in the management of HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper is to portray and critically analyse the role played by pharmacists in the management of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data used for this article originate in secondary and primary sources. They were collected by means of a documentary analysis of all relevant documents of significance as well as exploratory telephone interviews conducted with a systematic random sample of community pharmacies in Greater Johannesburg in 2004 and 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It is clear from the original strategic framework that the government envisaged pharmacists playing a significant role in the various facets of the epidemic. Following these intentions, the South African Pharmacy Council and the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa embarked on a process of establishing AIDS Resource Centres in pharmacies. However, although in some areas pharmacists are contributing to the management of HIV/AIDS, the overall scenario revealed is that of lack of willingness to go for additional training and/or to invest in restructuring the pharmacy to 'accommodate' the activities of an 'AIDS Resource Centre' without the prospects of adequate financial gains. In a parallel process, the original, more meaningful role for pharmacists in the management of HIV/AIDS has not been featured in recent professional and governmental documentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reality on the ground is that of a missed opportunity as the pharmacists have not risen to the challenge and they remain on the margins, and not at the centre, of those professionals managing HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: community pharmacy; pharmaceutical public health; professional practice; research method; sociology