The hole of the pharmacist vis-à-vis Covid-19

actions far beyond the dispersing of medicines

Abstract

The appearance of COVID-19 and the fight against the pandemic generated significant changes in the pharmacist's performance. In Brazil, the actions of the Unified Health System (SUS) stand out, which through Pharmaceutical Assistance facilitates the population's access to medicines and rational use. In the process of using the drugs used to treat patients with COVID- 19, the pharmacist contributes to the monitoring of the prescribed drug treatments and their respective adverse effects, which makes it possible to prepare fármaco epidemic data. Drugstores are seen as places of first access to the health system, this feature allows the pharmacist, when carrying out the rapid test for the detection of COVID-19, to guide the patient regarding the need to seek help in SUS units. In addition to the diagnostic system, as soon as the vaccines for the treatment of this infectious disease are discovered, the pharmacist can contribute to the immunization process. In view of this context, we propose a reflection on the role of the pharmacist, as a health agent, and his various skills in the fight against the pandemic we face.