Abstract
Background and aims: Pharmacists are patient centered health care providers who are educated to advice and fulfill many of patient's health care and drug needs. However, lately this profession has been violated by many non-pharmacist intruders who practiced as pharmacists. The aim of this study was to find out who actually are running the pharmacies and their level of knowledge on some basic pharmacy background information, and technical terms that are unique to pharmacy education, elements of dispensing and the concept of pharmaceutical care with its communication and counseling aspects. Methods. To evaluate the extent of this phenomenon, and finding out who are actually running the pharmacies, field visits to a total of 200 pharmacies across greater Tripoli city were carried out, along with interviews of the dispensing personnel, using questionnaire form to evaluate their level of knowledge on some of the basic information and technical terms that are unique to pharmacy education, in addition to elements of dispensing and the concept of pharmaceutical care with its communication and counseling aspects. Results. The results showed that of the personnel running the pharmacies, pharmacists represented only about 30%, assistant pharmacists about 10%, medical professions (physicians, dentists, veterinarians, medical technologists and nurses) about 50%, in addition non-health related profession 10% (teacher, engineers, accountant, agriculturist engineer …etc. ) . Moreover, the intruders have very little information, if not at all, on the elements of good dispensing practice. Conclusion. It is highly recommended that the relevant authority bodies (pharmacists' syndicate, association of pharmacists and ministry of health) not only set regulations to protect this profession but also to enforce them for urgent implementation.