What medication-related task can pharmacy technicians NOT perform?

• A. Preparing prescription labels
• B. Directly counseling patients about their medications
• C. Assisting with medication orders
• D. Processing prescriptions

Answer: (B)

Pharmacy technicians play a vital role in the medication dispensing process, but they must operate within specific legal and regulatory boundaries. One critical task that falls outside of their scope of practice is directly counseling patients about their medications. This task requires the specialized knowledge and training of a licensed pharmacist, who is qualified to provide personalized drug therapy information, address complex medication-related questions, and ensure that patients understand how to use their medications safely and effectively.

Patient counseling involves discussing aspects such as potential side effects, drug interactions, proper usage, and answering any questions a patient may have about their therapy. Because this requires clinical judgment and the ability to tailor information to each patient’s individual needs, only pharmacists are legally permitted to perform this task. Pharmacy technicians can assist in the preparation and processing of prescriptions and participate in other supportive roles, but when it comes to patient interaction regarding medication advice, that responsibility lies exclusively with pharmacists.