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Pharmaceutical Care


“Most pharmacotherapy failures can be attributed to the improper use of medications by patients. The solution to this significant problem is the implementation of Pharmaceutical Care.”

The treatment of a disease begins after the doctor has made a diagnosis based on a thorough clinical evaluation. This diagnosis is essential to determine the most appropriate therapeutic plan to cure the disease or alleviate its symptoms. In most cases, this treatment is pharmacological, meaning it involves the use of medications designed to target the cause or mitigate the effects of the disease. However, sometimes, even when the diagnosis is correct and the medication has been properly prescribed—with the correct dosage, regimen, and dispensing—the pharmacological treatment may fail to achieve the intended goals. This is because, in certain situations, medications do not act as expected or are not used correctly by patients.


The causes of these therapeutic failures can vary depending on the patient. One of the most common is an inadequate dosage: it may either be lower than necessary to achieve the desired effect or, conversely, higher, causing unwanted effects. Additionally, adverse reactions or interactions with other medications the patient is taking may occur, altering the treatment's effectiveness or causing unforeseen side effects. Self-medication is also common, where patients take more medications than necessary without proper supervision. However, the most frequent issue, affecting 50% of cases, is non-compliance with the prescribed pharmacological treatment regimen by the patient. This non-compliance may be due to forgetfulness, a lack of understanding of the instructions, or even a lack of trust in the treatment's effectiveness.


To address these issues, the best solution is rigorous monitoring and control of the pharmacological treatment by a healthcare professional who can adjust dosages, identify potential problems, and ensure that the patient understands how to correctly follow the prescribed regimen.


This is the primary role of Pharmaceutical Care, a practice that involves continuous monitoring of the patient's treatment with two fundamental objectives.

  1. The first is to ensure that the prescribed medication achieves the expected goal, meaning that the patient receives the desired benefits of the treatment as determined by the doctor.
  2. The second objective is to detect and minimize any unwanted problems that may arise during the treatment, such as adverse reactions or non-compliance, and intervene in a timely manner.

This monitoring is carried out in close collaboration between the pharmacist, the patient, and, if necessary, the doctor, to resolve any situation that may compromise the treatment's effectiveness or the patient's health. With this individualized care, safer and more effective use of medications can be ensured, thereby increasing the likelihood of therapeutic success.