Community pharmacists and clinical pharmacists are increasingly recognised as crucial players in global and South African healthcare systems. With rising costs, clinician burnout, and the burden of chronic illness, pharmacists and pharmacy assistants are stepping into a bigger role, not just as dispensers of medicine but as educators and partners in patient health education and disease prevention.
“It’s important to stress that individuals requiring professional medical care should never attempt to treat themselves,” said Michael Gullan, CEO of G&G Advocacy. “Instead, we advocate for ongoing health education for pharmacy healthcare professionals so patients can get trusted advice based on the latest medical science, enhancing patient safety and promoting self-management.”
Pharmacists in self-care: the high cost of uninformed decisions
Research shows that around 60% of premature deaths are linked to modifiable lifestyle factors, while the World Health Organisation estimates that one-third of all deaths could be avoided through timely and accurate treatment. Take diarrhoeal illnesses as an example: these cause an estimated 1.3 million deaths annually worldwide, often due to dehydration. When treatment with oral rehydration is delayed, the risk of fatality rises significantly.
Pharmacists who recognise red flags and provide evidence-based recommendations are critical to preventing such outcomes. The implications are not only medical but also economic. Rising absenteeism, presenteeism, and chronic illness in South Africa are adding to healthcare costs and highlighting the need for effective chronic disease management.
“But here’s the challenge,” noted Gullan. “Doctors often don’t have the time to educate and support their patients. That’s where frontline health professionals, particularly pharmacists, assistants, and clinic sisters, can make a significant impact through patient care services and medication therapy management.”
Education transforms patient outcomes
The connection between patient education and improved health outcomes is well documented, especially in chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. A patient’s belief in their own ability to manage their health, known as self-efficacy – can determine whether they stick to treatment plans or make lifestyle changes, directly impacting medication adherence.
By explaining medication regimens, side effects, or even the safe use of simple over-the-counter products, pharmacists boost both confidence and competence. These factors drive better adherence, fewer complications, and reduced costs for healthcare systems.
“Health literacy, or the ability to seek, understand, and act on health information, is a medical and risk-management concern,” Gullan added. “Poor health literacy leads to missed treatments, medication errors, and preventable hospitalisations. This is why health literacy assessment and improvement are crucial aspects of pharmaceutical care.”
Practical tools for empowerment
Clinical pharmacists can apply proven education methods to empower patients and enhance self-care behaviours. One such method is “teach-back”, where, after explaining treatment plans, pharmacists ask patients to repeat the information in their own words.
“Knowing how to test understanding via teach-back is a simple yet crucial skill in health communication,” Gullan explained. “The goal isn’t to test the patient but to ensure clarity and confirm real understanding.”
This approach strengthens health literacy and ensures that patients leave the pharmacy not just with medicine but with knowledge, supporting patient activation and self-management.
From compliance to collaboration
Informed consent is often seen as a legal step in medical care, but when reframed as part of patient learning, it becomes a powerful tool for collaboration. Shared decision-making builds trust, and that trust translates into stronger adherence and better therapeutic outcomes.
“Pharmacist professionals can reinforce this education long after a doctor’s visit, turning a one-time prescription into a partnership,” said Gullan. “This ongoing patient consultation and medication review process is essential for effective chronic care management.”
Beyond dispensing: a healthcare imperative
The opportunity is clear: healthcare systems must shift their perception of pharmacists from transactional dispensers to transformational educators. With chronic disease on the rise and medical resources under strain, pharmacists should be leveraged as vital partners in healthcare delivery and health system sustainability.
“It’s time for healthcare leaders, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and medical aids to recognise the full value of pharmacist healthcare professionals in pharmacy practice,” Gullan concluded. “Smarter self-care starts at the pharmacy counter, and the return on that investment in patient empowerment and self-care interventions is long-term, measurable, and life-saving.”
