A Word from the Guest Editor

      The fields of social pharmacy (the role of medicines in social and humanistic domains), pharmaceutical practice (availability, accessibility, and use of medicines), and pharmacy practice (pharmacy services at all levels of healthcare) are essential part of contemporary pharmacy research and science, although still with a limited number of publications, particularly in developing and least developed countries. However, publications within this field are crucial for a good understanding of actual concepts, principles, roles, activities and contributions of pharmacists, as well as patient safety and medication-related issues and associated costs. Moreover, it is very important to analyze the changes within actual practice over time (e.g. changes in drug use patterns, the impact of digitalization and changes in patients’ habits and delivery of pharmaceutical services), as well as the impact of such changes on pharmacists’ and patients’ outcomes. Continuing the survey and quality evaluation of pharmacy services and patient satisfaction are imperative for further improvements within pharmaceutical and pharmacy practice.
This special issue of Archives of Pharmacy entitled “Social Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice – Current Progress and Future-oriented Development Pathways“ includes one review article and five research papers related to different roles of pharmacists, pharmaceutical services and their evaluation, as well as to the pharmacoeconomic evaluation of treatment costs. It will give insights into the current social pharmacy, pharmaceutical and pharmacy practice issues, and also into the methodological recommendations for further research.
As a guest editor, I would like to thank the Archives of Pharmacy Editorial Board for their kind invitation to propose the topic for this issue of Archives of Pharmacy.

Guest Editor
Marina Odalović, PhD, Professor
University of Belgrade – Faculty of Pharmacy
Department of Social Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Legislation