Pharmacy Services
European healthcare systems are facing increasing pressure due to population ageing, rising chronic disease burden, evolving patient expectations, workforce shortages, and constrained public budgets. In this context, there is a growing need to strengthen primary care and make more efficient use of healthcare resources. Community pharmacies, as highly accessible healthcare settings, are increasingly recognised as key contributors to this shift.
Pharmacy services across Europe
Over recent decades, and particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, community pharmacy practice has evolved significantly. The role of pharmacists has expanded beyond the traditional focus on medicines dispensing to include a broad range of clinical, preventive, and patient-centred services, supporting health promotion, disease prevention, and medicines optimisation.
Pharmacy services can be defined as pharmacist-led public health interventions delivered in community pharmacy settings, contributing to improved access to care and continuity of treatment.
The triple aim of healthcare
- Better quality of care
- Improved health outcomes
- More efficient use of healthcare resources
Across Europe, there has been a clear expansion in the availability of pharmacy services. A recent cross-country survey covering 33 countries identified 47 different pharmacy services, with a median of 26 services per country, and showed that 77% of services are now available in more countries compared to 2020.
Categories of pharmacy services
Pharmacy services now span a wide continuum of care and can be broadly grouped into the following categories:
Core (foundational) services
- Dispensing services, including repeat dispensing, emergency supply and home delivery
- Compounding (galenic formulation)
- Emergency care and minor ailment management
- Medicines optimisation, such as medication review, adherence support and first-time dispensing interventions
Expanded and patient-centred services
- Health promotion, such as smoking cessation and health education
- Screening and referral, including risk screening, point-of-care testing and referral to other healthcare providers
- Disease management, including chronic disease management and therapeutic monitoring
- Individual case management, such as medication reconciliation and dose administration aids
- Digital and data-driven services, including access to electronic health records and teleconsultations
Emerging trends
Over the past decade, and especially post-pandemic, there has been strong growth in several key areas:
- Vaccination services, now implemented in significantly more countries
- Medication reconciliation and medicines optimisation services
- Screening and early detection initiatives
- Chronic disease management and adherence support
These developments reflect a broader shift towards integrated, preventive, and patient-centred care, positioning community pharmacies as essential partners within primary healthcare systems.
At the same time, the expansion and sustainability of pharmacy services depend on supportive regulatory frameworks, adequate remuneration, and workforce capacity, which remain uneven across countries.
Downloads
Evolution of community pharmacy services in the European Union and beyond: a cross-country survey of 33 national pharmacy organisations
Report on Pharmacy Services in Europe
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