Community pharmacy-led point-of-care testing (POCT): expanding roles and strengthening health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

Point-of-care testing (POCT) offers an important opportunity to strengthen primary healthcare in low - and middle-income countries (LMICs), where access to laboratory diagnostics is limited. A pharmacy-led POCT framework has been designed to guide the systematic integration of POCT into community pharmacy practice, aiming to address diagnostic gaps, enhance early detection, and improve healthcare delivery. Drawing on global and regional evidence, the article highlights the growing role of pharmacists in providing POCT for communicable and non-communicable diseases, demonstrating positive impacts on clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and health system efficiency. However, barriers such as regulatory constraints, limited training, supply chain challenges, and inadequate reimbursement hinder wider adoption. In this article, we discuss the opportunities and challenges of pharmacy-led POCT in LMICs using the framework and propose key policy and practice recommendations for sustainable implementation. Strengthening pharmacy-led POCT through this structured approach can advance health equity, particularly in underserved areas, and can contribute to more resilient health systems.