We Needed Pharmacists in Primary Care: But Did We Get It Right?: Lessons from the UK, Opportunities for Albania

Ali Hindi; Eriona Petro

We Needed Pharmacists in Primary Care: But Did We Get It Right? Lessons from the UK, Opportunities for Albania

Ali Hindi
, Eriona Petro

Pharmacy

Utrecht University

Research output: Other contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Primary care systems across Europe are under pressure and pharmacists could be part of the solution. In the UK, a shortage of general practitioners (GPs) prompted efforts to expand multidisciplinary teams, including the integration of pharmacists into general practice. A decade later, the results are mixed: pharmacists brought clear benefits, but lack of integration hampered impact.

Albania is now exploring how pharmacists could support primary care. But the question is not whether to integrate pharmacists, it’s how to do it right. Drawing on lessons from the UK, this is an opportunity for Albania to design a more effective and inclusive approach from the outset.

Original language	English
Type	Blog post
Media of output	Online
Publisher	BMJ
Publication status	Published - 4 Sept 2025

Access to Document

https://blogs.bmj.com/bmjgh/2025/09/04/we-needed-pharmacists-in-primary-care-but-did-we-get-it-right-lessons-from-the-uk-opportunities-for-albania/

Cite this

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abstract = "Primary care systems across Europe are under pressure and pharmacists could be part of the solution. In the UK, a shortage of general practitioners (GPs) prompted efforts to expand multidisciplinary teams, including the integration of pharmacists into general practice. A decade later, the results are mixed: pharmacists brought clear benefits, but lack of integration hampered impact. Albania is now exploring how pharmacists could support primary care. But the question is not whether to integrate pharmacists, it{\textquoteright}s how to do it right. Drawing on lessons from the UK, this is an opportunity for Albania to design a more effective and inclusive approach from the outset. ",

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AB - Primary care systems across Europe are under pressure and pharmacists could be part of the solution. In the UK, a shortage of general practitioners (GPs) prompted efforts to expand multidisciplinary teams, including the integration of pharmacists into general practice. A decade later, the results are mixed: pharmacists brought clear benefits, but lack of integration hampered impact. Albania is now exploring how pharmacists could support primary care. But the question is not whether to integrate pharmacists, it’s how to do it right. Drawing on lessons from the UK, this is an opportunity for Albania to design a more effective and inclusive approach from the outset.

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