Pharmacy (from the Greek φάρμακον = drug) is the profession charged with ensuring the safe use of medication. Traditionally, pharmacists have compounded and dispensed medications on the orders of physicians. More recently, pharmacy has come to include other services related to patient care including clinical practice, medication review, and drug information. Some of these new pharmaceutical roles are now mandated by law in various legislatures. Pharmacists, therefore, are drug therapy experts, and the primary health professionals who optimise medication management to produce positive health-outcomes.

The symbols most commonly associated with pharmacy are the mortar and pestle and the (recipere) character. Pharmacy organisations often employ other elements, such as the Bowl of Hygieia, conical measures, and caduceuses in their logos. Other symbols are common in different countries such as the green Greek cross in France and Great Britain, the increasingly-rare Gaper in The Netherlands, and a red stylised letter A in Germany.

Disciplines

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The field of Pharmacy can generally be divided into three main disciplines:

• Pharmaceutics
• Pharmaceutical chemistry (often Medicinal chemistry)
• Pharmacy practice

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