The goal of medical therapy is to improve patients' health and quality of life. Optimal medicinal therapy should be safe, effective and appropriate. There should be equity of access to medicinal care and an accurate and up-to-date information base meeting the needs of patients and providers.
Physicians and pharmacists have complementary and supportive responsibilities in achieving the goal of providing optimal medicinal therapy. This requires communication, respect, trust and mutual recognition of each other's professional competence. When counselling patients, the physician may focus on the goal of therapy, the risks and benefits and side effects. The pharmacist on the other hand may focus on correct usage, treatment adherence, dosage, precautions and storage information.

THE PHYSICIAN'S RESPONSIBILITIES (Only in relation to medicinal therapy, without reference to the physician's full range of responsibilities)

Diagnosing diseases on the basis of the physician's education and specialised skills and in accepting the sole responsibility for the diagnosis

Assessing the need for medical therapy and prescribing the relevant medicine (in consultation with patients, pharmacists and other health care professionals, when appropriate)

Providing information to patients about diagnosis, indications and treatment goals, as well as action, benefits, risks and potential side effects of medicinal therapy

Monitoring and assessing response to medicinal therapy, progress toward therapeutic goals, and when necessary, revising the therapeutic plan (when appropriate in collaboration with pharmacists and other care givers)

Maintaining adequate records for each patient according to the need for therapy and in compliance with legislation (medical law)

Ensuring safe procurement and storage of medicines that physician is required by law to supply

Ensuring safe procurement, adequate storage and dispensing of medicines (in keeping with the relevant regulations)

Providing information to patients, which may include the name of the medicine, its purpose, potential interactions and side effects as well as correct usage and storage

Reviewing prescription orders to identify interactions, allergic reactions, contra-indications and therapeutic duplications. Significant concerns should primarily be discussed with the prescriber (physician)

Contributing to the preparation and revision of therapeutic plans involving treatment with medicines, in collaboration with physicians and other care givers

On request of the patient, discussing medicine-related problems or concerns with regard to the prescribed medicines

Advising patients on the selection and the use of non-prescription medicines and the patient's management of minor symptoms or aliments (accepting the responsibility for such advice). Where self-medicication is not appropriate, advising patients to consult their physician for diagnosis and treatment

Reporting adverse reactions to medicines to health authorities, when appropriate

Providing and sharing general as well as specific medicine related information and advice with the public and health care providers

Maintaining a high level of knowledge about medicinal therapy through continuing professional development

CONCLUSION
The patient will best be served when pharmacists and physicians collaborate together, recognising each other's roles, to ensure that medicines are used safely and appropriately to achieve the best health outcome.