Understanding Medicines with Chula Pharmacy: Why AI Still Can’t Replace Pharmacists

    The other day, a student asked me a thought-provoking question:

"Teacher, how much of a pharmacist’s work will be replaced by AI in the future? What skills do we need to develop to stay relevant in this AI-driven world?"

    In response, I asked the students to consider what tasks AI can realistically take over from pharmacists. One common example was answering medication-related questions: “What should I take for a headache? How many pills should I take? How often? Will this interact with my chronic medication?” AI can now provide fairly accurate and comprehensive answers to general questions like these. So, does that mean AI can replace pharmacists?

    As a pharmacist, I can't give a definitive yes or no. It's true that AI can offer quick and accurate responses. But pharmacy is about more than answering questions—it’s about understanding the full context behind each one.

    Let’s take a common example:

    If someone asks how many milliliters of paracetamol to give a 10-kg child with a high fever, an AI would likely calculate the dose correctly—based on the standard 10–15 mg per kg guideline. It might also explain that if the syrup is 120 mg per 5 mL, then the appropriate dose would be roughly 4.16 to 6.25 mL.

    AI might even add that the medicine can be given every 4–6 hours and suggest seeing a doctor if symptoms persist. But here’s where the human pharmacist steps in with something more important: context.

    A trained pharmacist will ask follow-up questions first. Who’s asking— a parent, a healthcare worker, or the patient themselves? How urgent is the situation? Are there other health conditions involved?

    Let’s say the mother is reusing leftover medicine from a previous illness. A pharmacist will ask:

    When was the medicine opened?

    If it's been more than 6 months, we’d recommend buying a new bottle.

    Does the medicine still look the same?

    Any changes in color, smell, or texture could mean it’s no longer safe.

    Even before discussing dosage, a pharmacist is trained to assess whether the medication should still be used at all. We don’t just dispense—we evaluate, advise, and prevent harm.

    Moreover, we’d want to know why the child has a fever, how long it's lasted, and whether other symptoms are present. All of this influences whether the child just needs paracetamol—or something more, or even a doctor’s visit.

    Now, imagine the same question comes from a nurse or a doctor. It might seem odd—medical professionals usually know the paracetamol dosage by heart. A pharmacist might wonder:

    Is this a routine double-check, or is there more to this case? For example, is the patient also dealing with liver issues or hepatitis? If so, the pharmacist would review all the medications being used to avoid harmful interactions and adjust the treatment plan accordingly.

    That’s the level of thinking, judgment, and personalized care AI still can’t match.

    From the public’s perspective, AI tools can be helpful—especially for general inquiries. Research shows AI's accuracy in answering medical questions ranges from 70% to 90%. But what's often missing is personalization. Each person has a unique health background, and treatment can't always be one-size-fits-all.

    So, can AI replace pharmacists? Not entirely.

    But can it help? Absolutely. AI can handle routine inquiries, freeing pharmacists to focus on deeper, more complex cases. That means more time to deliver personalized care—making healthcare safer, smarter, and more human.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nattada Areepiam and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bodin Tiwasuwan

Faculty of Pharmacy Chulalongkorn University