A pharmacist helps to prepare and dispense medicines prescribed by your healthcare team. Some pharmacists can prescribe your medicines, but they must have special training in prescribing and are called a pharmacist prescriber.
Low or no data? Visit Zero Data then search for 'Healthify'. Click on our logo to return to our site and browse for free.
Pharmacist
Key points about pharmacists
- A pharmacist is someone who is an expert in medicines.
- A pharmacist helps to prepare and dispense medicines prescribed by your healthcare team.
A pharmacist can work in a healthcare facility or in the community. Examples of where a pharmacist can work include:
- hospitals
- private clinics
- community pharmacies
- pharmaceutical companies.
Image credit: Canva
Video: Winter Preparedness Series 2023 - Pharmacy
Be prepared for winter, learn about how a pharmacist can support you by watching this video. It may take a few moments to load.
(Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora & Te Aka Whai Ora, NZ, 2023)
A pharmacist can help with the following:
- Preparing, mixing and dispensing medicines prescribed by your doctor, midwife, nurse or other prescribing health professional.
- Providing information about prescription and non-prescription medicines, including what they are for, how much you need to take them, side effects and when you need to take them.
- Providing advice on health issues, lifestyle choices or treatments for minor health conditions.
- Advising your doctor on the selection, dosage or interactions of medicines for a certain medical condition.
- Carrying out clinical drug trials.
Your doctor will let you know whether you need any prescription medicines for your medical condition.
Community pharmacies
A pharmacist is always available in one of the community pharmacies. If you need prescription medicines, you will need to get them from a pharmacy with a prescription form. You can also speak to a pharmacist if you have any questions without being referred by your doctor. Find a pharmacist in your local area here.
Apart from dispensing medicines, community pharmacies offer a range of services to keep you and your family well. Some pharmacies provide more services than others. The following are a few examples. If you are unsure whether your pharmacy provides these services, give them a call.
| Examples of services offered by some pharmacies | |
|
|
Your pharmacist can also show you how to use devices such as asthma inhalers, diabetes blood test kits, blood pressure machines and air humidifiers.
A pharmacist has to do 4 years of training in pharmacy and be registered with the Pharmacy Council of NZ(external link) to work in New Zealand. Find out about different training options to become a pharmacist on the Careers NZ website(external link).
Pharmacist(external link) Careers NZ
What is a pharmacist and what do they do?(external link) Healthpoint, NZ
What services do pharmacies provide?(external link) Healthpoint, NZ
References
- Pharmacist(external link) Careers NZ
- What is a pharmacist and what do they do?(external link) Healthpoint, NZ
- What services do pharmacies provide?(external link) Healthpoint, NZ
Need help now?
Credits: Healthify Editorial Team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.
Page last updated:
