Contribution of the Pharmacists to Self-care and Primary Care with Nonprescription Medications

Peoples have been much concerned on their healthy life. Recently, many kinds of dietary supplements and food for specified health uses are distributed and consumed in large quantities. Concurrently, medical case insurance in Japan has been accommodating a lot of patients increasingly year by year, when the Importance and enlightenment of self-care and primary care of people with nonprescription medications is proposed. The Pharmacists Law defines the responsibility of the pharmacists for the public health and welfare with medication and hygienic affairs. The recent pharmacy education for 6 years in Japan is likely to orient pharmaceutical care practice for contribution to the treatment of patients by appropriate management of medication. The multidisciplinary knowledge on medicines and diseases, and the patient consultation technique are required in the pharmacy practice. The contribution and accountability of the community pharmacists to self-care and primary care with nonprescription medications, as social needs, is expected. In this review, social responsibility on the treatment with nonprescription medications and their information provided by the community pharmacists in future is discussed.