Pharmacy differences — things sold over the counter vs prescription

The pharmacist has genuinely been more useful than a GP visit for a string of minor things for me too — fully agree with that part of your post.

The OTC-versus-prescription flip caught me out as well, though in the opposite direction to what you described.

I keep a short list on my phone now of things I need explained or translated before I go in, saves repeating the same confusion every visit.

Do pharmacists here actually do minor consultations, or is that not really a thing in most places?

Yes, for genuinely minor stuff in my experience — saved me an unnecessary GP visit more than once.

Following, good thread.

Helga asked whether pharmacists do minor consultations. From my side of the counter, the answer in most countries I know is yes, within limits, and people use us far less than they could.

A pharmacist can usually help you with minor things: colds, mild allergies, small skin problems, questions about how to take something, and whether two medications are safe together. We can also tell you when something isn't minor and you should see a doctor today, which is maybe the most important part. What we can't do is diagnose serious things or replace your doctor.

Some tips for using a pharmacy in a new country:

• bring the packaging or a photo of what you used at home, so we can find the equivalent by active ingredient
• tell us about any other medication and allergies, even if it seems unrelated
• ask for the pharmacist specifically if the question is more than which box to buy

And don't be embarrassed about your language. We see it every day, and a photo and a few words are usually enough.

Thank you, Olena, this is exactly what I wanted to know. I'll ask for the pharmacist next time instead of pointing at boxes.