Polish pharmacists propose new professional competencies and services

Pharmacists in Poland are pursuing significant legislative changes to expand their professional roles and services. A new draft law, submitted to the Ministry of Health, proposes introducing new health services within pharmacies, establishing individual and group professional practices for pharmacists, and granting them access to medical documentation.

The Ministry of Health has described meetings regarding these developments as “historic,” signaling a potential shift in the pharmaceutical care model. This includes ongoing work on legislation concerning prescriptions and individual professional practices.

Parallel to these professional expansions, a controversy has emerged regarding the amendment of the Pharmaceutical Law. A statement in the project's justification, which clarifies that pharmacists do not fall under the category of “medical education” in the context of advertising bans, has sparked debate. The Silesian Pharmaceutical Chamber addressed criticisms regarding this distinction, stating that their intention is to strengthen the role of the pharmacist and ensure they can promote services such as preventive actions and health fairs without being restricted by the same advertising bans applied to medical professionals.