World Pharmacy Council: Community Pharmacy & COVID-19 - September 2020

                                                                     Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has been the most significant global challenge in decades. While the social and economic consequences have been far-reaching, at its core it has been a health crisis, with an effect on almost every community around the world.

Community pharmacies are the most frequently visited healthcare destinations in most developed countries, and community pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals. Their crucial, frontline role in the management of the pandemic and its challenges should come as no surprise.

The demands on community pharmacy staff and resources have been immense. Changing workflows, patient education, logistical and supply chain disruptions, massive spikes in demand, new services, PPE, accelerated uptake of new technologies - all of this and more had to be dealt with safely and professionally, in a high stress, high risk workplace. Community pharmacies did not close. They could not close. They are - and always have been - essential.

Community pharmacists and their teams have received well-earned praise from patients, politicians, bureaucrats, the media, the community, and even royalty. Throughout the crisis, there has been growing recognition of pharmacy's role in public health, in the management of chronic conditions and common ailments, as local health hubs and triage points, and as an essential pillar of a collaborative, frontline primary health care workforce. With this, there has also been recognition of the untapped potential community pharmacy holds for society and health systems - not only at times of crisis, but at all times. The goal - for pharmacy organisations and for payers and regulators - should now be to harness this potential, to act on this real world evidence, by permanently unlocking the full scope and capability of community pharmacy while ensuring the strength and viability of the sector.