The role of the pharmacist in modern healthcare is changing, and in Slovakia its potential has so far been only partially tapped. Pharmacies can be the most accessible place for basic assistance, monitoring, and prevention. The discussion shows that the key lies in changes to legislation, better integration with doctors, and expanded competencies.
Pharmacist: from dispensing medicines to patient care
In our country, the pharmacist’s role is still perceived mainly through dispensing medicines and basic counseling, but in many countries they routinely do more. This includes vaccinations, certain forms of prescribing, screening, monitoring the patient’s condition, and systematic collaboration with doctors. This is how a pharmacy becomes an accessible point of care that relieves the overburdened system.
We can also build on the high level of public trust. According to a recent survey, 92% of people trust doctors on health matters and 90% trust pharmacists, while only about a third trust information from the internet. The task for the future is to turn this trust into concrete services that patients know and can easily use.
Vaccination in pharmacies: ready on paper, not in practice
Since August 2023, legislation has allowed pharmacies to administer influenza vaccinations, but the service is still not being implemented. The Ministry of Health’s implementing decree is missing, which is to precisely specify the procedure, equipment, and premises requirements. The second obstacle is education—vaccination is not part of the pharmacy curriculum, so staff need additional training.
Public concerns relate more to vaccination as such than to the place where it is carried out. Therefore, alongside legislation and education, clear, comprehensible communication about benefits and safety is needed. An optimistic scenario for when vaccination in pharmacies could realistically start points to the flu season in autumn 2025.
Technology, integration, and staffing shortages
Digitalization already helps manage the load in pharmacies today and frees up time for patient work. Automated inventory ordering, electronic shelf labels, and dispensing robots cut routine tasks down to seconds. The next step is better data integration with doctors—for example, so that measurement results from the pharmacy go directly into the patient’s medical record.
The biggest challenge, however, remains the shortage of pharmacists. Improvements could come from expanded competencies, better-equipped pharmacies, ongoing training, and clear rules for collaboration with doctors. A strengthened role for the pharmacist could increase the profession’s attractiveness, shorten patients’ paths to care, and, through timely screenings, contribute to a healthier population.
