[Contribution of the pharmacist to safety in self medication]

Dispensing medicaments, including non-prescription items, is permitted only to persons with adequate professional training. An important task is therefore assigned to the pharmacist. Also in self medication, patients may run considerable risks, which are due to the drugs applied on the one hand, and to the specific situation of the patient on the other hand. Pharmaceutical advice to patients represents the most effective instrument to minimize these risks. The three elements of pharmaceutical advice (analysis, direction and control) are discussed in detail. Pharmaceutical advice is completed by package inserts. Patients should be incited to demand more pertinent advice from pharmacists. Drug advertisement should be handled more carefully. Compared to other countries, self-medication has reached a leading position in Switzerland. Pharmacists have accepted this challenge and are increasingly adjusting their education to the problems of self-medication.