Public health - Recognising the role of Australian pharmacists

This article describes the philosophy of public health as it relates to the work of pharmacists. Individual patient care provided by pharmacists when supplying medicines is placed within a public health framework and existing public health roles performed by pharmacists are presented. Newly emerging public health roles and public health opportunities for pharmacists in developing countries are outlined. Education relevant to the practice of public health is discussed both as a component of pharmacy training and as a specific field of postgraduate education that pharmacists may pursue.