A new care scheme that has been launched by Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, will increase the role of pharmacists in offering treatment to those patients, who are suffering from chronic illnesses.

This is a service, where pharmacists will be seen offering ‘care plans’ to all those patients, who are suffering from chronic ailments, for instance, high blood pressure or if is a diabetes patient.

As per the regulations set for the scheme, which has been claimed to be the first of its kind in the UK, by the Scottish Government, GP’s and pharmacists will share all the records of a particular patient.

Under the scheme, GPs will prescribe medicines that will last for 48 weeks and with the prescription, patients would be able to collect the prescribed medicines from pharmacists every few week, without having to pay a visit to the GP.

Ms. Sturgeon, while visiting a pharmacy in Shotts, Lanarkshire, yesterday said that the chronic medicine service would convert the role that pharmacists had played up till now, as they will have a noteworthy role to play after the scheme comes into effect.

Also, the pharmacists will be able to make use of their expertise in the best way and offer quality care, alongside a GP to the Scottish populace.