From Dispensers to Care Providers

In an era when pharmacy education in South Asia focused primarily on dispensing and compounding, Prof. Dr. Mian Naim Anwar Muzaffar envisioned a transformative role for pharmacists as integral members of the healthcare team. In 1975, he introduced structured hospital rotations for final-year pharmacy students—an unprecedented initiative in the region.

These clinical postings, first implemented at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, allowed students to conduct real-time medication reviews, interact with physicians, monitor drug therapy, and provide recommendations—shifting their identity from dispensers to clinical care providers.

Within two years, the model yielded measurable results:

• 37% reduction in medication errors reported at Jinnah Hospital.

• Improved patient safety through rational drug use and dosage adjustments.

• Enhanced physician-pharmacist collaboration in ward settings