The pharmacist Uganda’s health future needs

What the report says

The Observer published a commentary tied to World Pharmacists Day arguing that Uganda should treat pharmacists as central to everyday healthcare, not just as dispensers of medicines. The piece says many people in Uganda first seek help at a pharmacy when they are unwell, worried or unable to reach a doctor, making the pharmacist an important point of advice, risk assessment and referral.

The article, attributed to the president of the Pharmacy Owners Association, says the profession now faces pressure from rising non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, falsified or substandard medicines and new digital health tools. It argues that a pharmacy degree alone is not enough and that continuing professional development is needed to keep pace with changing medicine use, monitoring and supply systems.

A major theme is ethics. The commentary says pharmacists work in a commercial environment, but profit should not override patient welfare. It also warns that new tools such as electronic prescriptions, telepharmacy, artificial intelligence, automated stock systems and data-driven supply chains should be adopted carefully so they improve access rather than widen gaps between urban and rural users. The article calls on government and professional bodies to strengthen training, regulation and the role of pharmacists in prevention, education, surveillance and medicine management.