Community Pharmacists Performing Health Screening in Pharmacies or Health Events

6 Ms Irene Quay Siew Ching asked the Minister for Health whether community pharmacists are allowed to perform health screenings such as taking blood pressure readings or hypocount checks for the public in their pharmacies or at health events if they have an established flow to refer patients to nearby GPs for follow-up of abnormal readings.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Under the Pharmaceutical Care Excellence initiative, pharmacists who are trained can perform health screening such as taking blood pressure readings or blood glucose checks onsite at pharmacies or at community health events.

Pharmacists perform these evaluations in partnership and under the oversight of licensed healthcare providers. This is important as the licensed providers are accountable for the conduct of the health screening, including the proper selection of participants for the health screening and appropriate follow up for those with abnormal results.