A Reflection on What Pharmacists in Different Countries Can Learn from One Another

What would be the first words that come to mind if you were asked about the US health care system? I asked that question to several of my friends and pharmacy peers and received mixed responses such as “expensive,” “confusing,” “hard to navigate,” and “best in the world.” This was not surprising considering the many options and the varying quality of medical procedures, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals available. I wondered how responses might differ if I posed the same question about their health care to those in a third-world country. So, I asked the same question of friends and family in my home country of India. The most common responses were “inexpensive,” “trustworthy,” “stagnant,” and “long waits for care.” Health care systems’ priorities align with their culture, regulatory bodies, and national guidelines (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 2025; Pharmacy Council of India, n.d.), As a world traveler and a pharmacy student, I was interested in the reasons behind the differences and how they might affect the level and quality of pharmaceutical care provided to consumers. But my real motivation was to discover how I could personally navigate these differences to provide optimal care to my patients no matter where I am practicing.