Inclusion of community pharmacies in private practice within primary care

This brief explores evidence from the literature on the role of community pharmacies within the delivery of primary care. Community pharmacies are defined as private businesses, either owned by individuals or corporations, which dispense medications and sell other products. In many contexts, these entities are the most utilized primary care providers, enhanced by their ubiquity and convenience. However, community pharmacies may not be formally recognized within the health system or included within primary care models.They may not comply with legal requirements nor adhere to scope-of-practice restrictions. Government oversight of community pharmacies may be under resourced and not responsive to changes in market developments, which can occur without strategic management. Policy response includes recognition of the role of community pharmacies within primary care models; expanding the scope of the pharmacy profession; and, taking a systems-oriented approach to optimize the rational use of medication and encourage entry into the health care systems at an appropriate level of care.