Pharmaceutical care

Pharmaceutical care is a pharmacy practice model developed in the 1990s[1] that describes patient-centered medication management services performed by pharmacists.

[6] In 1993, ASHP issued a statement in response to members seeking a standardized definition of pharmaceutical care.

[2] In 2013, a European organization, the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE), created a new definition that could satisfy experts from a multitude of countries.

After a review of existing definitions, a number of options were presented to the participants and in a one-day meeting consensus on a definition was reached: Pharmaceutical Care is the pharmacologist/pharmacist's contribution to the care of individuals in order to optimize medicines use and improve health outcomes.

This should preferably be done together with other health care professionals and the patient through a review of the medication (and diseases) and subsequent counselling and discussions.