Understanding Medicine with Chula Pharmacists: Pharmacists Near You – Caring for Your Health at Every Stage of Life

  The Pharmacy Council of Thailand will organize Pharmacy Week 2025 from June 21 to June 27, 2025. This year's theme is “Pharmacist Anywhere”, emphasizing that pharmacists are always close to the public, providing safe and appropriate medication guidance. Pharmacists are medication experts with deep knowledge in research, development, production, quality control, storage, and distribution of drugs, as well as offering accurate advice on drug usage. Whether you're at home, in a hospital, at a pharmacy, or even online, Thai pharmacists are ready to care for your health. Many people are familiar with the image of pharmacists dispensing medicine in pharmacies or hospitals. However, in reality, pharmacists play a much broader and more complex role. They are a crucial cog in the pharmaceutical system—from working behind the scenes in labs to serving patients at the frontlines. In an era overwhelmed with health information—some of it inaccurate or misleading—having a pharmacist as a “reliable source of information” is more important than ever. They can help the public use medication properly, reduce the risk of overdoses, duplicated medications, or interactions between drugs, food, and herbal remedies.

Community Pharmacists: Caring for Your Health in Your Neighborhood

Community pharmacies are more than just places to buy medicine—they are the first line of healthcare that people can conveniently access. Community pharmacists play a vital role in ensuring safe and effective medication use. Their responsibilities include:

• Providing initial consultations for mild symptoms and advising on self-care or referring patients to a doctor.
• Giving guidance on correct drug usage, side effects, precautions, and drug interactions.
• Supporting patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension by monitoring medication adherence.
• Promoting public health through nutrition advice, exercise, smoking cessation, and vaccinations.

Community pharmacists are “frontline defenders” in preventing health problems from escalating and significantly reducing hospital burdens.

Hospital Pharmacists: Guardians of Medication Quality in Complex Healthcare Systems

In hospitals, pharmacists play critical roles in both medication management and patient care within interdisciplinary teams. Their main responsibilities include:

• Reviewing prescriptions to ensure appropriateness and preventing medication errors.
• Monitoring drug use and counseling patients and families before discharge.
• Collaborating with doctors, nurses, and specialized pharmacists such as clinical or oncology pharmacists.

Hospital pharmacists are seen as the “final safeguard” protecting patients from medication-related issues in complex healthcare environments.

Digital-Era Pharmacists: Expanding Roles into the Online World

In today’s digital world, many pharmacists have extended their services online by:

• Educating the public about medications through social media, websites, or apps.
• Providing Telepharmacy services for those in remote areas or unable to travel.
• Monitoring and clarifying inaccurate health information online.
• Supporting online pharmacy services, including medication booking and tracking systems.

Digital pharmacists enhance healthcare accessibility and ensure timely, reliable medication support—wherever people are. One notable example is the Drug Information Center at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, which offers public consultation via the LINE app at @guruya.

“Where there are people, there are Thai pharmacists.”

This is more than a slogan—it reflects the mission of Thai pharmacists to ensure safe medication use across all settings: in communities, hospitals, and online. On this Pharmacy Week, we invite everyone to recognize the essential role of pharmacists in daily life. If you have any questions or uncertainties about medication, don’t hesitate to consult a “pharmacist near you”, whether at your local pharmacy, hospital, or a trusted online platform. Safe drug use is vital, and pharmacists are always here to support you.  

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natthada Areepian, RPh Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bodin Tiwsoowan, RPh Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University