FIP Report Identifies Training and Funding Gaps in Pharmacists’ Dermatology Practice

An International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) report has identified significant gaps in training, clinical guidance, regulatory authority and funding that limit pharmacists’ ability to provide structured dermatological care, despite strong willingness among pharmacists worldwide to take on a more proactive role in managing skin conditions.

The report, Optimising Pharmaceutical Care for Dermatological Presentations in Community Pharmacy Practice, draws on an international survey and expert insights to examine how community pharmacists currently manage dermatological presentations, the challenges they face and the support required to expand their role.

Based on 142 eligible responses from pharmacists in 51 countries, selected from 409 survey submissions, the report highlights opportunities to strengthen pharmacists’ contribution to skin health while addressing barriers that affect the delivery of safe, effective and accessible care.

Pharmacists Frequently Manage Skin-Related Enquiries

The report found that dermatological concerns are a regular part of community pharmacy practice. A substantial proportion of respondents reported receiving skin-related enquiries daily or several times a week, highlighting the frequency with which patients turn to pharmacists for advice on common skin conditions.

Acne, eczema, fungal infections, scalp and hair concerns, and other common dermatological presentations were among the issues pharmacists reported managing. However, respondents’ confidence varied depending on the condition, with greater challenges reported in areas such as psoriasis, rosacea and skin toxicities associated with cancer treatment.

These findings underline the importance of equipping pharmacists with the clinical knowledge, practical skills and referral guidance required to assess dermatological presentations, identify warning signs and support appropriate treatment decisions.

Gaps in Clinical Guidance and Professional Authority

Despite the frequency of dermatological consultations, the report identified significant limitations in the professional and regulatory environment in which pharmacists operate.

Only 22.5 per cent of respondents reported having access to local or national guidance to support the management of dermatological conditions. Meanwhile, 59.9 per cent indicated that pharmacists lacked the authority to initiate or adapt treatment, limiting their ability to provide comprehensive care in certain settings.

The absence of structured dermatology services was another major concern, with 52.1 per cent of respondents reporting that such services were not available in their practice environments. In addition, 88.7 per cent said they did not receive additional remuneration for providing dermatological care.

These findings suggest that pharmacists’ willingness to expand their role is not always matched by the systems, policies and resources needed to support them.

Training and Support Needed to Strengthen Practice

The report identified professional education as a major priority for improving dermatological care in community pharmacies.

Respondents expressed a strong preference for practical, accessible and interactive learning approaches. Case-based interactive online courses were preferred by 60.6 per cent of respondents, while 53.5 per cent favoured short online modules or videos.

The report also identified several forms of support that pharmacists considered important for strengthening their practice. These included case-based training, stronger collaboration with other healthcare professionals, clearer guidance on treatment selection, and practical tools to support clinical decision-making.

A total of 85.9 per cent of respondents identified case-based training as a useful form of support, while 83.8 per cent highlighted the importance of stronger collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Treatment-selection guidance was identified by 83.1 per cent, while 81.7 per cent called for guidance on managing medicine-related skin reactions.

Respondents also emphasised the need for clinical algorithms, clear triage and referral criteria, and guidance that takes account of dermatological presentations in people with different skin tones.

Systemic Barriers Continue to Limit Dermatological Care

Beyond training, the report identified several practical and systemic barriers affecting the delivery of dermatological services.

More than half of respondents, 52.8 per cent, identified system and policy barriers, including unclear referral pathways and regulatory limitations, as major or very major challenges. A lack of tools and information was reported by 47.9 per cent, while 42.3 per cent identified inadequate remuneration as a significant barrier.

Other challenges included practical constraints within pharmacy settings and limitations in pharmacists’ knowledge or confidence when managing certain dermatological conditions.

The findings indicate that improving dermatological care requires more than individual professional development. It also depends on supportive regulation, clear referral systems, appropriate resources and recognition of the clinical services pharmacists provide.

International Experiences Highlight Opportunities for Expanded Services

The report also presents examples of approaches being used in different countries to strengthen pharmacists’ involvement in dermatological care.

These include teledermatology initiatives, pharmacist-led consultations and follow-up services, and arrangements that allow pharmacists to initiate treatment for selected conditions or provide specialised compounding services.

Although these approaches operate within different regulatory and healthcare systems, they demonstrate how collaboration between pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, supported by appropriate policies and training, can help integrate community pharmacies into broader dermatological care pathways.

The report highlights the importance of adapting such approaches to local healthcare needs, professional scopes of practice and regulatory frameworks.

Implications for Pharmacy Practice in Nigeria

For Nigeria, the report offers an opportunity to consider how community pharmacists can contribute more systematically to the management of common dermatological conditions.

Community pharmacies are often accessible points of contact for people seeking advice about skin problems. However, the development of structured services requires appropriate clinical training, evidence-based guidance, clear referral pathways and regulatory frameworks that define pharmacists’ responsibilities.

The report includes insights from an international expert board, which featured Nigerian consultant pharmacist Chizaram Amarauche Chukwu. However, its survey findings represent participating pharmacists across multiple countries and should not be interpreted as a national assessment of dermatological pharmacy practice in Nigeria.

For Nigerian pharmacy stakeholders, the findings raise important questions about continuing professional development, collaboration with dermatologists and other healthcare professionals, and the potential development of structured dermatological services within community pharmacies.

Professional associations, regulators, pharmacy educators and healthcare providers could play important roles in assessing local needs and identifying practical ways to strengthen pharmacists’ knowledge, confidence and capacity to support patients with skin conditions.

FIP Calls for Practical Education, Collaboration and Policy Support

The report recommends a coordinated approach to improving pharmaceutical care for dermatological presentations. Its recommendations include expanding practical and case-based training, developing accessible clinical guidance, establishing clear triage and referral pathways, and strengthening collaboration between pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.

It also highlights the need for appropriate funding and remuneration models, alongside advocacy to support the integration of dermatological services into primary healthcare.

The report identifies several priority areas for professional education and service development, including photoprotection, acne, skin repair, atopic dermatitis, and skin toxicities associated with oncology treatments.

These priorities reflect the need to support pharmacists in managing common presentations while also recognising conditions that require specialist assessment and coordinated care.

Strengthening the Pharmacist’s Contribution to Skin Health

The FIP report highlights the potential for community pharmacists to contribute more effectively to dermatological care, while making clear that willingness alone is insufficient to establish sustainable services.

Expanding pharmacists’ role will require investment in professional education, evidence-based clinical tools, supportive regulation, effective referral systems and appropriate recognition of the services provided.

As healthcare systems continue to explore ways to improve access to primary care, strengthening pharmacists’ capacity to support people with dermatological conditions could help make care more accessible and coordinated. The report provides an international evidence base for further discussion among pharmacy regulators, professional bodies, educators and healthcare policymakers, including those in Nigeria.

Source: International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), Optimising Pharmaceutical Care for Dermatological Presentations in Community Pharmacy Practice (2026).