Global healthcare policy now has
a strong self-care focus and various strategies have been put in place to
encourage consumers to have a more active role in exercising self-care.
Pharmacies unquestionably handle and manage large numbers of consumers who seek
help and advice for minor illness, and advocates of pharmacy have argued that
this will decrease doctor workload regarding minor illness, allowing them to
concentrate more on ‘complex’ patient care. The expansion of non-prescription
medicines has undoubtedly contributed to the growth seen in the market and
given consumers greater choice. It has also provided community pharmacy with an
opportunity to demonstrate real and tangible benefits to consumers by
facilitating patient self-care. For example, in the UK, Governmentendorsed (and
funded) schemes such as Minor Ailment Schemes have shown the positive impact
community pharmacy can have on patient outcomes. However, research data on the
impact community pharmacy makes to patient outcomes through facilitated
self-medication is less convincing