Principle: The pharmacist must co-operate with other health care professionals to achieve the best possible outcomes for the patient. The pharmacist shall respect the skills and competencies of other health care providers and endeavour to work cooperatively with them to optimise the health outcomes of mutual patients and the public.

In adhering to this principle the following should be taken into consideration:

The pharmacist must endeavour to foster, develop and maintain effective relationships with professional colleagues and other health care providers and to co-operate with them to achieve positive medicine-related health outcomes for patients and the community.

The pharmacist must endeavour to foster, develop and maintain the role of the pharmacist as a member of the health care team with expertise in medicine-related health outcomes.

Pharmacists must respect the special competencies and responsibilities of their colleagues and other health care professionals, and of the institutions, statutory and voluntary agencies that constitute their working environment.

The pharmacist must refer a patient in his/her care to other team members or to other services when appropriate, or consult with colleagues or other health care providers when additional knowledge of experts is required, at all times having due regard for the patient's right to confidentiality and informed consent.

The pharmacist must endeavour to promote collegial relationships by striving to assist professional colleagues and other health care providers when called upon for advice or support and enable them to discharge their professional duties in order to maintain appropriate standards in the interests of patient care, public health and safety.

The pharmacist must endeavour to maintain the confidence and trust placed in colleagues and other health care providers by patients and must refrain from making public comment that could detract from their professional reputation or harm the relationship they have with patients.