Abstract
Objective : We face an aging population combined with the diminishing number of children following population decline. The duties of pharmacists should be improved in order to adapt to these social changes. In this paper, we make clear the tasks of Japanese pharmacists in the near future.
Methods : Based on reports from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), including population trends, and publications from the Pharmaceutical Association of Japan, problematic keywords were extracted, and further searches and discussions on internet news were conducted to identify issues facing community
pharmacists in response to social changes.
Results & Discussion : Our results suggest five new tasks of pharmacists:
1. Protect the mental health of elderly populations
Fifty-six percent of Japanese (including 22.5% Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR)) have no religion and are
more mentally unstable than the religious population due to less protection from religious views.
2. Protect the physical health of elderly populations
Multivitamin supplements should be administered for the prevention of latent vitamin deficiency.
3.?Preparation against natural disaster
Twenty Mobile Pharmacies are available in Japan. The number of facilities should be increased to guard against natural disasters in remote areas. The facilities would be also useful for educational purposes for pharmacy students.
4. Usage of AI
Generative AI would be useful with proper media literacy.
5. Japanese community pharmacists in the new era should contribute to 1) the stable supply of pharmaceutical products and 2) protecting citizens' mind and body health. Cherish this proverb: A sound mind in a sound body.
