Community pharmacists’ expanding roles in supporting patients before and during COVID-19: An exploratory qualitative study

Patient perspectives on the vital primary care role of community pharmacists in Nova Scotia, Canada: qualitative findings from the PUPPY Study

“…Community pharmacists played a crucial role in supporting patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 17 ]. They were often the first point of contact for patients seeking health services and took on informal triage and navigation roles that were often unrecognized by system decision-makers [ 24 , 31 , 32 ].…”

“…Compared to other primary care providers, community pharmacists offer greater accessibility due to expanded hours of operation, geographic proximity, and prevalence of community pharmacies [ 13–16 ]. Community pharmacists work to their full scope of practice to address the unmet needs of unattached patients, providing them more advice and newly expanded services such as minor ailment prescribing than attached patients [ 17 ]. Additionally, while other primary care settings shifted to virtual care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, community pharmacists remained available for in-person visits, making them indispensable for all patients, including unattached patients and attached patients facing new barriers to accessing their primary care providers (“semi-attached”) [ 17 ].…”

“…In Nova Scotia, community pharmacists’ scope of practice has expanded over time with the gradual addition of some remuneration through public dollars to cover services (e.g. prescribing for uncomplicated cystitis, shingles, contraception, and renewals) [ 9 , 17 ]. As scope continues to evolve in the context of pressures on the overall health system due to factors such as COVID-19, exploring the patient perspective on pharmacists’ services can facilitate a greater understanding of their needs.…”

Implementation of pharmaceutical preparation management during the covid-19 pandemic: literature review

“…(1) increasing pressure on pharmacists to meet the unique healthcare needs of engaged and unattached patients; (2) what pharmacists offer (eg, accessibility, trust); (3) positioning pharmacists in the system (eg, how can pharmacists address disparities in primary health care); (4) pharmacist welfare; and, (5) recommendations for post-pandemic practice (eg maintaining some of the policy changes made during the COVID-19 pandemic) (Isenor et al, 2023). Private pharmacies in Kenya are actively contributing to the COVID-19 response, but more intentional involvement, support and engagement is needed.…”

The Essential Role of Pharmacists during the COVID-19 Pandemic: a review article

“…With a highly trusted role in community healthcare, community pharmacists closed pandemic-related gaps that were brought by reduced access to healthcare providers and additional strain on the healthcare system. Community pharmacists ensured that necessary care could be provided to attached, unattached, and semi-attached patients who experienced significant barriers to primary care (Isenor et al, 2022). The duty assumed by community pharmacists was significant in low to middle-income nations, whereby a high number of people cannot afford the fees charged in a hospital setting by physicians.…”