The Roles of Pharmacists and Pharmacies in Sustainable Medical Care: Current Status and Outlook Three Years After the Issuance of Recommendations by the Science Council of Japan

Abstract

Three years have passed since the Science Council of Japan issued its recommendations entitled “Profession and lifelong learning of pharmacists responsible for sustainable medical care.” These recommendations include active involvement in community medicine, securing patient information necessary for pharmaceutical management, harmonizing undergraduate and post-graduate education, reform of the certification system for specialty-credentialed pharmacists, and development of the pharmacist resident system. This paper provides an overview of recent trends and future prospects for pharmacists and pharmacies in Japan.