The word Pharmacy has originated from a Greek word ‘pharmakon’ meaning ‘drug’. This branch of medical sciences was developed with the motive of providing proper medical advice to the general public. Years ago, the branch of pharmacy included conventional roles like compounding, nursing facilities and dispensing drugs. Now that every medical branch has diversified assisted living facilities, likewise pharmacies have also gathered more roles. Now pharmacies generally counsel drug information to the patients or their kin. While counselling they keep the patient’s medical history in mind, depending on which the strength of the drug is considered safe. Such counselling completely rules out the prescription of a wrong drug.

Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who have to enroll themselves in a four-year degree program to manage a pharmacy. They are equipped with the knowledge of chemical drugs and the human body, and thus ensure that patients receive the correct medication. Many pharmacists also own the pharmacies in which they practice.

Pharmacies can be of different types depending on the location, and can specialize in certain areas. Community pharmacies are retail stores that sell drugs and food items, and are commonplace in Australia, America and the UK. They are also referred to as chemist or drug stores. These pharmacies usually require an on-duty pharmacist and trained pharmacy technicians who help with the dispensing of the drug and counsel patients on the same.

Hospital pharmacies are found inside hospitals. To practice in a hospital pharmacy, pharmacists have to gain additional training and often specialize in clinical areas like critical care, HIV/AIDs, infectious diseases etc. Hospital pharmacies are different from community pharmacies, as they specialize in other products such as sterile equipments for patients undergoing surgeries.

Pharmacies concerned with clinical trial settings and patient’s wellbeing come under the category of Clinical pharmacies. These pharmacies provide needful assistance and works in alliance with doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners involved in clinical study.

Some serious patients require customised drugs or a particular strength of a drug. Such drugs are provided by compounding two or more related drugs to make the one one with desired strength and form. Such pharmacies are called compounding pharmacies and they are generally found in hospitals and retirement centers.

Other types of pharmacies include consulting, veterinary, nuclear, military and internet pharmacies. Online pharmacies are slowly gaining popularity, with the concept of tele-pharmacy promising to deliver to more remote areas and reduce the cost of healthcare.

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