Pharmacist surrounded by barriers to clinical pharmacy services.

Beyond Pills: Uncovering the Real Barriers to Better Pharmacy Care

Reese Marlowe in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A deep dive into why clinical pharmacy services aren't reaching their full potential, and what we can do about it."

In an era where healthcare is rapidly evolving, the role of the pharmacist is also undergoing a significant transformation. Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS) are emerging as a vital component of patient care, with pharmacists stepping beyond simply dispensing medications to becoming active participants in managing and improving patient health. These services encompass a range of activities, from medication reviews and reconciliation to patient counseling and disease management.

The potential benefits of CPS are substantial. Studies have shown that these services can reduce medication errors, lower healthcare costs, and improve patient outcomes. As healthcare systems worldwide recognize these advantages, there's a growing push to integrate CPS into standard practice. However, the road to widespread implementation is often fraught with challenges. Despite the clear benefits, many healthcare systems struggle to effectively integrate CPS into their workflows.

Understanding these barriers is crucial to unlocking the full potential of clinical pharmacy services. A recent study delved into the perceptions of pharmacists and managers in Northeast Brazil, shedding light on the systemic and practical obstacles hindering the successful implementation of CPS. This article explores these findings, offering insights into the multifaceted challenges and potential solutions for building a more robust and patient-centered pharmacy care model.

What's Holding Back Better Pharmacy Care? The Barriers Unveiled

Pharmacist surrounded by barriers to clinical pharmacy services.

A qualitative study was conducted in a metropolis in Northeast Brazil, involving focus groups and in-depth interviews with health-system pharmacists and managers. The goal was to identify the perceived barriers to implementing CPS in public health units. The study revealed a range of obstacles, categorized into five key areas:

Participants in the study highlighted several limitations that directly impede their ability to deliver comprehensive clinical pharmacy services. Let's dive into them:

Local Healthcare Networks: Inadequate physical infrastructure (lack of private consultation areas, limited resources), drug supply issues, and insufficient staffing.
Healthcare Team: Lack of understanding and awareness among other healthcare professionals regarding the scope and value of pharmacists' clinical activities.
Pharmacists: Insufficient clinical training during undergraduate education, difficulty balancing clinical and logistical responsibilities, and resistance to change among some pharmacists.
Implementation Process: Poor timing of implementation (coinciding with holidays, vacations), short implementation periods, and lack of tailored strategies for specific health units.
Patients: Lack of awareness and understanding among patients regarding the benefits of CPS.

These barriers paint a picture of a system struggling to fully embrace the potential of clinical pharmacy services. Addressing these issues requires a multi-pronged approach, focusing on infrastructure improvements, enhanced training, interprofessional collaboration, and patient education.

Moving Forward: Steps to a More Patient-Centered Pharmacy

The findings from this study underscore the need for systemic changes to support the successful implementation of clinical pharmacy services. By addressing the identified barriers, healthcare systems can empower pharmacists to play a more active role in patient care, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes and a more efficient healthcare system. It's time to shift the focus from simply dispensing medications to embracing the full potential of pharmacists as integral members of the healthcare team.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206115, Alternate LINK

Title: Perceived Barriers To The Implementation Of Clinical Pharmacy Services In A Metropolis In Northeast Brazil

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: PLOS ONE

Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Authors: Genival Araujo Dos Santos Júnior, Sheila Feitosa Ramos, André Mascarenhas Pereira, Aline Santana Dosea, Elton Matos Araújo, Thelma Onozato, Déborah Mônica Machado Pimentel, Divaldo Pereira De Lyra

Published: 2018-10-22

Everything You Need To Know

What are Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS), and why are they important?

Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS) represent a shift in the role of pharmacists from simply dispensing medications to actively participating in patient care. This includes activities like medication reviews, reconciliation, patient counseling, and disease management. CPS are important because studies show they can reduce medication errors, lower healthcare costs, and improve patient outcomes. Integrating CPS into standard practice is crucial for a more effective healthcare system.

What are the key barriers preventing the successful implementation of Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS) in healthcare?

The study identified several key barriers. These include issues within Local Healthcare Networks such as inadequate infrastructure and drug supply problems. Challenges also exist within the Healthcare Team, specifically a lack of understanding of the pharmacist's role. Pharmacists themselves face hurdles like insufficient clinical training and difficulty balancing clinical and logistical tasks. The Implementation Process, including timing and lack of tailored strategies, also poses problems. Finally, a lack of Patient awareness and understanding regarding the benefits of CPS is another significant barrier.

How do limitations within Local Healthcare Networks specifically impact the provision of Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS)?

Limitations within Local Healthcare Networks, such as inadequate physical infrastructure like a lack of private consultation areas, directly impede the delivery of CPS. These infrastructural problems, along with drug supply issues and insufficient staffing, create an environment where pharmacists struggle to provide comprehensive care. Without proper resources and support, the pharmacists' ability to perform medication reviews, counsel patients effectively, and manage diseases is significantly diminished, thereby hindering the full potential of CPS.

What role does the Healthcare Team play in the successful implementation of Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS), and what challenges exist?

The Healthcare Team's understanding of the pharmacist's role is crucial for the success of CPS. A lack of awareness and understanding among other healthcare professionals regarding the scope and value of pharmacists' clinical activities constitutes a significant challenge. This lack of awareness can lead to underutilization of pharmacists' expertise, hindering collaboration and preventing the seamless integration of CPS into patient care workflows. Overcoming this requires improved interprofessional communication and education to foster a collaborative environment.

Beyond identifying barriers, what specific actions can be taken to advance patient-centered pharmacy care?

Addressing the identified barriers requires a multi-pronged approach. Improvements in Local Healthcare Networks through better infrastructure and resource allocation are essential. Enhanced training for Pharmacists, especially in clinical areas, is vital. Fostering interprofessional collaboration within the Healthcare Team to increase understanding of each role, and patient education campaigns to raise awareness about CPS benefits are also crucial. These actions will empower pharmacists to play a more active role in patient care, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes and a more efficient healthcare system.