1. Why Pharmacists Contact the Doctor When a Prescription Looks Suspicious
When a pharmacist receives a prescription (a paper where a doctor writes the type and amount of medicine), they first check the contents. If there are "suspicious points," such as errors in the amount or type of drug, typos, or hard-to-read handwriting, they contact the doctor who wrote it to confirm. This process is called an inquiry regarding doubts. [8]
Article 24 of the Pharmacist Act states that a pharmacist must not prepare medicine based on a prescription until they have confirmed any suspicious points. [8] Making these inquiries is a normal part of the job to prevent mistakes.
2. How Pharmacists Check Medicines From Different Hospitals Together
If you see doctors at multiple hospitals, each doctor may not always know about the medicines prescribed by the others. This can lead to situations where the same ingredient is duplicated or where there are problems with how different drugs interact with each other. [8]
Because of this, pharmacies check your "medicine notebook" (a booklet where you record your prescriptions) to look for duplicates and interactions. The Japan Pharmaceutical Association explains that a "regular pharmacist" should grasp what you are taking, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and health foods, to check for duplicates and interactions. [8] The Bunkyo Ward government also advises bringing your medicine notebook to the pharmacy so they can check for duplicate use. [8]
3. How Pharmacists Count Medicine and Group It by Time of Day
Pharmacists count and prepare the medicine exactly as written on the prescription. After that, they check again to make sure the medicine matches the prescription. [8]
People who take many medicines are prone to forgetting to take them. To help, pharmacists may use a method called "single-dose packaging," where they put the medicines for specific times, like morning, noon, and night, into small individual packets. [8] A document from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare lists this as support to prevent leftover or forgotten medicine for people receiving care at home. [8]
4. How Pharmacists Explain Medicine to Patients and Their Families
When handing over the medicine, the pharmacist explains its effects, how to use it, and any precautions to the patient and their family. Article 25-2, Paragraph 1 of the Pharmacist Act makes it a duty to provide necessary information and guidance for the proper use of medicine. [8]
Paragraph 2 of the same article states that if deemed necessary, pharmacists must continue to grasp the situation of medicine use after dispensing and provide further explanations. The job does not end when the medicine is handed over; it includes grasping the subsequent usage situation and continuing necessary explanations. [8]
5. How Pharmacists Advise on Over-the-Counter Drugs and Answer Nighttime Calls
At a pharmacy, you can consult about over-the-counter medicines even without a prescription from a hospital. Over-the-counter medicines are divided into four categories based on the level of caution needed: guidance-required medicines, Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. [8]
Only pharmacists can sell guidance-required medicines and Class 1 medicines. Class 2 and Class 3 medicines can be sold by pharmacists or registered sellers. [8] The Japan Pharmaceutical Association also lists responding to phone consultations about medicine use during nights and holidays, and visiting the homes of people who have difficulty going out to check their medication, as roles of a regular pharmacist. [8]
6. How Pharmacies Are Changing From Giving Out Medicine to Supporting People
In 2015, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare published the "Pharmacy Vision for Patients." This policy aims to shift the focus from just preparing medicine to facing and supporting patients. [8]
The vision introduced concepts such as moving from "location to function," from "object-oriented work to person-oriented work," and from "scattered to unified." The jobs we have looked at in this article overlap with this direction of person-oriented work. [8]
7. How You Can Learn More About Your Medicine at Home
What you can do today: Look at the box or instruction sheet for medicine in your home with an adult. Try to find words like "before meals," "after meals," or "3 times a day." It is important not to give medicine to others or change the set way of taking it on your own. [8]
What you can do when you go out: When you pick up medicine at a pharmacy, ask the pharmacist, together with an adult, what the instructions written on the bag mean. [8]