In the light of evolvements in pharmacy practice, partly as a result of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Pharmacy of the University of Malta would like to reassure the public that community pharmacists are well-positioned to support patients to identify appropriate medicines use.

Pharmacists are extensively trained by following a five-year degree programme offered by the Department of Pharmacy at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Malta.

The course instils the ability to assess medicines for quality, safety and efficacy and equips pharmacists with expertise required to sustain patients to use products that are most suitable for their needs.

Community pharmacists are highly effective in providing advice to patients on the range of non-prescription medicines that is expanding, while ensuring consumer safety and the selection of alternative medicines as necessary.

Community pharmacists maintain a tight collaboration with medical doctors and other healthcare professional to facilitate patient access to effective medicines.

A very high level of public trust and confidence in community pharmacists ability to advise on appropriate medicines available to meet their needs was established in a research study undertaken by Marie Josette Parnis as part of her Doctorate in Pharmacy dissertation at the Department of Pharmacy of the University of Malta. This augurs well for an efficient handling of the situation in these challenging times.