Smart Pharmacists Serving the New Needs of Post-COVID Patients, Leaving No One Behind

The document highlights the role of pharmacists in Serbia in addressing post-COVID conditions through the SMART Pharmacist Program, which provided educational activities and a standardized questionnaire to assess patient needs. A study involving 871 patients, predominantly female with a mean age of 45, evaluated the impact of pharmacists' interventions on post-COVID symptoms. Common symptoms included respiratory issues, cognitive dysfunction, and skin, hair, and nail changes, with hair loss reported by 163 patients. Pharmacists recommended treatments such as alpha lipoic acid for paraesthesia and minoxidil lotion for hair loss, emphasizing self-medication and referrals to physicians. The study underscores the evolving role of pharmacists in providing evidence-based recommendations and enhancing public health literacy in the post-COVID era.