Dr. Paulin Basinga (centre), Africa Director, Gates Foundation, Equity Group Holdings Chairman Prof. Isaac Macharia, and Group Managing Director and CEO Dr. James Mwangi jointly cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the first stand-alone pharmacy at Britam Towers in Upper Hill, Nairobi/HANDOUT.
Pharmacists could take on a bigger role in Kenya’s primary healthcare system, including screening patients, supporting treatment of minor ailments and helping manage chronic illnesses, as the country seeks to make basic care more accessible.
The call comes as the world marks World Pharmacists Day today under the theme “Empowering pharmacists for healthier futures”.
Dr John Kanyi, a pharmacist at Equity Afya Dandora, said changing health needs require pharmacists to play a more active role in prevention, screening, medication management and patient education.
“Empowering pharmacists is about moving us from behind the dispensing counter to the frontline of primary care,” Dr Kanyi said.
For patients living with conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, regular access to healthcare and medication advice can be critical in managing their conditions.
Pharmacists are often among the healthcare professionals patients interact with when seeking medicines or advice on their use.
This places pharmacists in a position to identify potential health concerns, encourage patients to seek further medical assessment and support adherence to prescribed treatment.
“Pharmacists are in a unique position because we interact with patients regularly. We can help identify problems early, support patients to use their medicines correctly and refer them when a condition requires further clinical attention,” he said.
The expanded role could also help ease pressure on health facilities by allowing appropriately trained pharmacists to manage selected minor conditions and provide basic health services while referring complex cases to doctors and other specialists.
Medication safety is another area where pharmacists have an important role to play. Proper storage, dispensing and counselling can reduce medication errors, while patient education can discourage inappropriate self-medication.
The issue is particularly important in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, which is fuelled in part by inappropriate use of antibiotics.
“Every antibiotic we use needs to be used responsibly. Pharmacists have an important role in explaining why a medicine has been prescribed, how it should be taken and why patients should not share or unnecessarily use antibiotics,” Dr Kanyi said.
Technology is also changing pharmacy practice, with digital platforms increasingly supporting patient records, follow-ups and medication management.
However, Dr Kanyi said technology should complement rather than replace professional judgement and interaction with patients.
The changing role of pharmacists comes as healthcare systems seek to make primary care more accessible while placing greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention.
As World Pharmacists Day is marked, the profession's focus is shifting from simply ensuring patients receive medicines to helping patients understand, use and manage those medicines safely as part of their broader healthcare.
“An empowered pharmacist is not only someone who dispenses medicine. It is someone who can educate, identify risks, support treatment and know when a patient needs to be referred for further care,” he said.
