When you visit a Japanese drugstore, someone may ask,
“Can I help you find something?”
Because they wear a white coat, many people assume they are pharmacists.
However, they may actually be a Registered Sales Clerk.
This qualification was introduced relatively recently in Japan.
Registered Sales Clerks are allowed to sell and advise customers on many over-the-counter medicines, while pharmacists continue to handle medicines that require a higher level of professional supervision.
When I first started working, this system did not yet exist.
Looking overseas, the picture becomes a little different.
Some countries have no qualification equivalent to Japan’s Registered Sales Clerk.
In some places, OTC medicines can even be purchased in supermarkets or convenience stores, while in others pharmacists or pharmacy staff provide advice in pharmacies.
The role of a Registered Sales Clerk often begins with listening.
“I have a fever.”
“My throat hurts.”
“I need something that won’t make me sleepy.”
From these conversations, they help customers choose an appropriate medicine.
Hospital and community pharmacists, on the other hand, usually work from prescriptions.
Rather than choosing medicines, we spend much of our time checking prescriptions.
Are there any drug interactions?
Is the dosage appropriate?
Are there unnecessary duplicate medicines?
The prescribing decision belongs to the physician.
Pharmacists do not have prescribing authority.
When something seems unclear or potentially unsafe, we contact the physician to confirm the prescription.
Patients rarely see these conversations, but even after many years, making that phone call can still be a moment of quiet tension.
Healthcare systems differ from country to country.
Even so, having someone who can listen, answer questions, and help people use medicines safely may be something that matters everywhere.
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