Unit 5. Community pharmacy

Nowadays pharmacies have become multifunctional institutions. They range from the large chains with shops on every street to small individually owned pharmacies in small communities. Pharmacies are commonly called the chemist’s in Australia, New Zealand and the UK; or the drugstore in North America.

If you've a baby, suffering from a chronic health condition, you'll understand how much we depend on our pharmacies! Parents or caretakers buy medicine or medical devices, if their kids get sick or need vitamins and minerals or parents are going on holidays with their kids.

A community pharmacy provides a wide range of pharmaceuticals and parapharmaceuticals, disposables, surgical and life-saving products. It has a number of baby products: everything from teething rings to formula and gifts. Any pharmacy can offer a number of cough medicines, cough drops, throat drops, tablets, syrups and multivitamins, baby wipes, feeding bottles, etc.

A working day at a pharmacy usually starts at 8 a.m. and lasts until 7 or 8 p.m. Several consultant pharmacists work here. Every pharmacist has a number of responsibilities. During their working day they compound and dispense medicines. Pharmacists can answer many questions about medicines, recommend nonprescription drugs, and discuss side effects of specific medications. Of course they help patients understand the instructions. Therefore, a registered pharmacist must possess skills, knowledge and understanding of basic principles. This will help him to dispense appropriate drugs for the customers.

All the pharmaceuticals are divided into prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) ones. All of them must be supplied with labels. The dose to be taken and the directions for administration are also indicated on a label. Indicating the dose and the name of any medicine is necessary for pharmacists, GPs, nurses, parents or caretakers. A parent must read the labels to make sure the product is appropriate for the child’s age. He must know that children can have different adverse reactions to a drug than adults. The serious adverse events may cause vomiting, convulsions, rapid heart rates and death. Children are more sensitive than adults to many drugs.

The labels on the drugs may be of two types: cautionary and auxiliary. Cautionary label, for example, is: "Keep out of reach of children!", and auxiliary one is: "Shake well before using!"

The state board of pharmacy controls compounding of any prescription medicament and dispensing of drugs.

New vocabulary:

1. multifunctional institution – многофункциональное учреждение

2. individually owned pharmacies – частные аптеки

3. to be commonly called - часто называется

4. chemist’s , drugstore - аптека

5. medical devices - медицинские приборы

6. a wide range of pharmaceuticals - широкий ряд фармацевтических препаратов

7. parapharmaceuticals – дополнительные аптечные товары

8. disposables - предметы одноразового использования

9. life-saving products - спасающие жизнь

10. a number of responsibilities - ряд обязанностей

11. to compound and dispense - готовить по прописи и отпускать

12. a registered pharmacist - лицензированный фармацевт

13. to possess skills, knowledge - обладать умениями, знаниями

14. appropriate drugs for the customers - соответствующие лекарства для покупателей

15. over-the-counter (OTC) - без рецепта

16. to be supplied with labels - снабжать этикетками

17. to be indicated – указываться

18. cautionary and auxiliary - предупреждающий и сопутствующий

19. to shake well before using - хорошо встряхнуть перед употреблением

20. the state board of pharmacy - государственный совет по вопросам фармации

Answer the following questions:

1. Where are medicines compounded and dispensed?

2. What terms are applied to the pharmacy in the UK and in the USA?

3. Why has a pharmacy become a multi-functional institution?

4. What can you buy in a pharmacy for your child?

5. What specialists work in an average pharmacy?

6. How long does their working day last?

7. What professional responsibilities must pharmacists possess?

8. Are all the medicines supplied with labels?

9. What information must a label contain?

10. There are two types of labels, aren't there?

11. What is the function of the state board of pharmacy?