Global Strategies to Strengthen Community Pharmacists in Providing Primary Healthcare Services: Scoping Review

Background: Community pharmacists (CPs) are pivotal in healthcare delivery; they are the first point of contact for healthcare services and are trusted by patients. Their role goes beyond the dispensing of medications to encompass emergency care and management, health promotion, and management of chronic diseases. The review aimed to explore strategies to strengthen the role of CPs in global primary healthcare service provision. Methods: The search followed a framework described by Arksey and O'Malley, subsequently expanded by Levac et al.. An extensive search of relevant academic databases yielded 4530 articles for review. Three databases (PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar) were searched using a combination of keywords and controlled vocabulary terms related to “primary healthcare services”, “communitypharmacist”, and “strengthening strategies.” They were combined using Boolean Operators ('AND', 'OR', 'NOT'). Selection and elimination based on the eligibility criteria identified 18 relevant articles. Data analysis entailed a systematic approach, including the categorisation of strategies and the identification of common themes across the regions. Results: The review demonstrated various strategies in different parts of the world, particularly policy support, professional development, collaboration, financial incentives, and public health initiatives. For instance, Portugal, the United States, and Canada demonstrated examples of policy and legislative support that allow pharmacists to expand their roles. In addition, financial conditions, seen in Indonesia, Canada, and the Netherlands, play a crucial role in the sustainability of pharmacist-led services. Britain, Europe, Portugal, Sudan, and Nigeria revealed the potential of pharmacists in public health, including health promotion and disease prevention. Conclusion: The review highlighted the significance of integrating CPs into primary healthcare roles that could potentially improve access, quality, and equity in the healthcare system. However, the issue of regulatory barriers, the necessity of capacity building, and financial reimbursement have to be recognised as current challenges requiring much effort and collaboration.