Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals whose key role is managing the distribution of medicines to consumers/patients and supporting their safe and efficacious use. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of practising pharmacists per capita increased in OECD countries by 20% on average, to 85 pharmacists per 100 000 inhabitants (Figure 9.4). However, the density of pharmacists varied widely across OECD countries, ranging from a low of 19 per 100 000 in Colombia to 199 per 100 000 in Japan. Among OECD countries, the highest growth rates in pharmacist density between 2011 and 2021 were observed in Chile and Colombia.
Most pharmacists work in community retail pharmacies, but many also work in hospitals and industry, as well as in research and academic settings. In Canada, for example, in 2021 more than 75% of practising pharmacists worked in community pharmacies, while 20% worked in hospitals and other healthcare facilities (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2021[1]). In Japan, around 59% of pharmacists worked in community pharmacies in 2020 while around 19% worked in hospitals or clinics, and the remaining 22% in other settings (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 2020[2]).
In 2021, the number of community pharmacies per 100 000 people ranged from 9 in Denmark to 97 in Greece, with an average of 28 across OECD countries with comparable data (Figure 9.5). For most countries there has not been much change over time, although one exception is Denmark, where the community pharmacy density almost doubled between 2011 and 2021. The variation in community pharmacy density across countries can be explained in part by differences in common distribution channels. For example, some countries rely more on hospital pharmacies to dispense medicines to outpatients. Denmark has fewer community pharmacies, but these are often large, and include branch pharmacies and subsidiary pharmacy units attached to a principal pharmacy. In Australia, with an average of around 23 community pharmacies per 100 000 people, the minimum distance between pharmacies is regulated. The range of products and services provided by pharmacies also varies between countries. In most European countries, for example, pharmacies also sell cosmetics, food supplements, medical devices and homeopathic products.
The role of the community pharmacist has expanded in recent years. In addition to dispensing medications, pharmacists are increasingly providing direct care to patients (such as vaccinations, medicine adherence and chronic disease management support, and home medication review), both in community pharmacies and as part of integrated healthcare provider teams. In countries such as Belgium, Finland, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, pharmacists also play an enhanced role in health promotion and disease prevention, including in rural areas (OECD, 2020[3]). In many OECD countries, the scope of practice of community pharmacists has been further expanded in response to COVID‑19 (OECD, 2021[4]).
