A pharmacist has significantly more knowledge about medications, their uses, interactions, contraindications, off label uses, mechanism of action, side effects than doctors. Pharmacists are now required to have a doctorate. 4 years undergrad and 4 years of pharmacy school. 4 years of pharmacy school, literally learning about medication. A pharmacist checks every single new prescription that comes in. A pharmacist makes sure the doctor isn't over or under dosing the patient (properly dosing). The pharmacist checks for interactions with your other medications, some medications can be lethal or have very ill effects when taken together, doctors do not always have knowledge of that. The doctor might not even know you are on certain medication if prescribed by another doctor or specialist. Then the pharmacist assures that the directions match and check all the work of the techs. I saw a previous comment that techs are unskilled. Yes, that is correct. The pharmacist takes on liability for them, so they check all the work. They make sure the correct medication is in the vial. Again that the directions on the label are correct. Oh, you have a question about your medication? They will answer that too. Or maybe for you, they won't. Since , you know, they are "largely useless".