Pharmacists have long been recognized as the friendly faces behind the counter, ready to dispense medications and answer quick questions. But if you think that’s all they do, think again. In recent years, pharmacists across North America have stepped into a much larger spotlight, taking on expanded roles that go far beyond simply filling prescriptions. From Alberta’s rural communities to bustling American cities, these professionals are increasingly seen as essential, accessible members of the healthcare team—providing personalized care, chronic disease management, and even direct prescribing services that are changing the way patients experience healthcare.
According to The Globe and Mail, this transformation is particularly evident in Canada, where pharmacists are now empowered to deliver a broad range of health services. Megan Tanner, a pharmacist and owner of the Medicine Shoppe in Slave Lake, Alberta, exemplifies this new era. Since taking over her pharmacy in 2019, Tanner has embraced Alberta’s broad scope of practice, which allows her to prescribe medications for everything from travel immunizations to emergency contraception. “Gradually, these services are becoming more front and centre to the public,” Tanner told The Globe and Mail. Her practice includes chronic disease management, smoking cessation programs, medication reviews, compression stocking fittings, and much more. And she’s not alone—pharmacists across Canada are now offering point-of-care testing for strep throat, urinalysis, blood sugar checks, and even cholesterol testing in some locations.
This expanded scope is more than just a professional milestone; it’s a lifeline for communities where access to primary care can be limited. “Sometimes, access to primary care is limited,” Tanner explained. “We have one small hospital with an emergency department and a family care clinic. For a medical concern that’s not life-threatening like a sore throat or headaches, people are left with few options. They know they can come to us.”
The numbers back up this growing trust. The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPA) reports that pharmacists generate an estimated $4.7 billion in annual value by improving access to care and easing pressure on an overburdened healthcare system. Canadians fill approximately 750 million prescriptions a year, and in many provinces, pharmacists can now prescribe for common conditions, recommend over-the-counter treatments, and connect patients with community resources. Trust in pharmacists is sky-high: a CPA study found that 94% of Canadians view pharmacists positively, with 96% trusting them for medication advice and 94% for common ailments. That trust has only deepened since the COVID-19 pandemic, when pharmacists remained on the frontlines as other healthcare providers shifted to virtual or restricted services. “Expectations shifted,” Tanner said. “We were one of the few professionals who were consistently available throughout the pandemic. We remained open, served the public, and acted as a bridge between people and their health-care providers.”
Pharmacists’ evolving role isn’t limited to Canada. In the United States, community pharmacists are increasingly at the forefront of patient education, especially with the rapid adoption of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices for diabetes management. As Drug Topics reported on August 19, 2025, pharmacists are often the first healthcare professionals to counsel patients starting CGM, offering support at the very point of care. A recent study highlighted that pharmacists provided counseling up to 80% of the time depending on the device. However, the median counseling time was just under two minutes—far less than the 30 minutes typically available in ambulatory care clinics, revealing a significant gap in comprehensive education.
Dr. Morgan Stewart, a clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Texas at Austin, emphasized the vital position pharmacists hold. “Community pharmacists are one of the first, if not only, health care professional that is super accessible and probably one of the first people that gets to talk to an individual after they receive their CGM prescription,” Stewart told Drug Topics. She added, “With CGMs becoming more and more common and being dispensed in the community setting, I think pharmacists are very uniquely positioned to help patients understand their device right at the point of access.”
Yet, this crucial role comes with its own set of challenges. Stewart pointed to time constraints, workflow limitations, and a lack of reimbursement as major hurdles. “The system is not exactly set up in its current way to really allow pharmacists to put their best foot forward in being able to really spend the amount of time that's needed to fully support individuals when it comes to CGM counseling,” she said. The median counseling time being less than two minutes simply isn’t enough for thorough education, especially as CGMs are poised to become available over the counter. Stewart stressed the need for expanded training and better payment models to ensure pharmacists can provide the guidance patients need. “Being able to find solutions is going to be really important with the emergence of more of these devices on the market,” she added.
Meanwhile, the healthcare landscape is also being reshaped by the rise of direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription care, particularly with the surge in popularity of GLP-1 medications for weight management and diabetes. As reported by GeneOnline News on August 19, 2025, DTC models now allow patients to access prescription treatments through online platforms and telemedicine without the need for traditional in-person doctor visits. The growing public attention around GLP-1 drugs has accelerated the adoption of these models, making healthcare more convenient and accessible. However, this convenience brings new challenges, too. Stakeholders are now working to optimize these systems to ensure safety, efficacy, and equitable access, while addressing concerns about overprescription or misuse.
The expansion of pharmacist roles, the integration of new technologies like CGMs, and the evolution of DTC prescription care all point to a healthcare system in flux—one that is increasingly patient-centered, technology-driven, and reliant on trusted professionals who can bridge the gaps left by traditional care models. Pharmacists are at the heart of this transformation, acting as both a safety net and a springboard for patients navigating complex medical needs.
For patients, this means more options, greater convenience, and a level of personalized care that was once unheard of at the local pharmacy. For healthcare systems, it means leveraging the expertise and accessibility of pharmacists to relieve pressure on doctors and hospitals, improve outcomes, and ultimately, build stronger, healthier communities. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the pharmacist’s role will only grow more vital—one conversation, one prescription, and one patient at a time.
