The Japanese Community Pharmacists’ Perceptions of the Health Support Pharmacy System

A questionnaire survey was conducted employing pharmacists at 350 Japanese Federation of Democratic Medical Institutions (Min-Iren) member pharmacies, evaluating the challenges related to registering as a Health Support Pharmacy (HSP). Completed responses were received from 193 pharmacies (55.1%). Fifty-five (28.5%) of these pharmacies were approved as meeting the HSP criteria. Some difficulties encountered in registering as an HSP included the preparation of the numerous required documents and placing a health support pharmacist. The obstacles that prevented pharmacists from registering were physical, including “placement of two or more health support pharmacists” and “placement of the required over-the-counter drugs (OTCs).” Based on these, 51.8% of supervising pharmacists stated the opinion that the government should “loosen current criteria.” However, a survey conducted among the 724 participant pharmacists, working in a pharmacy, showed no significant difference in their answering tendencies depending on whether or not they worked at an HSP. This could be attributed to the effort that Min- Iren pharmacies have been putting into health support and primary care functions. Overall, 64.5% of pharmacists working at HSPs were proud that the pharmacy they worked had HSP status. The present survey revealed the physical obstacles of HSP registration. Conformity to the criteria of HSP is essential for performing their fundamental functions as pharmacies. The relaxation of the criteria is anticipated.