Introduction and objective:
The aim of the study is assessment of the effect of new professional competences concerning the provision of health services on professional responsibility of pharmacists.

Review methods:
The study was conducted based on literature in the field of law and public health, as well as decisions of common courts and the Supreme Court contained in the Polish Legal Information System LEX.

Brief description of the state of knowledge:
The professional liability of pharmacists is a liability closely related to membership of the professional self-government, i.e. the Chambers of Pharmacy. Professional liability of pharmacists is regulated by the provisions of the Act of 19 April 1991 on the Chambers of Pharmacy. In procedural matters, these provisions have been amended several times: the definition of the aggrieved party and the accused has been introduced, as well as an extraordinary remedy of cassation to the Supreme Court (SN). In matters not regulated, the Act on Chambers of Pharmacy refers to the appropriate application of the Criminal Code (CC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CC). However, the key and worthy of consideration are the substantive law issues related to professional misconduct. The concept of professional misconduct is important because of the expansion of the competencies of pharmacists who, like other medical professions, provide health services.

Summary:
Pharmacists perform the medical profession independently of, but in cooperation with physicians. Within the framework of their competencies defined by the law, they make decisions related to the provision or refusal of health services, and thus bear responsibility for these decisions, including professional responsibility. The extension of the professional competencies of pharmacists will undoubtedly change the nature of the cases that will be dealt with by ombudsmen and pharmacy courts in the near future.