Pharmacist: your partner in health

Every September 25th marks the annual World Pharmacists Day, as designated by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) council several years ago at the FIP congress in Istanbul, Turkey. This year theme is “Pharmacist: your partner in health”. The theme was chosen to stress the confidence and close collaboration that Pharmacists have with patients and other healthcare professionals.
For this day, FIP is encouraging world’s Pharmacists to organise activities that promote and advocate for the role of Pharmacists in improving health in every corner of the world. This will be the fifth world pharmacists day and it will be used by FIP’s members around the world to highlight the impact and added value of the pharmacy profession and its role in improving health to authorities, other professionals as well as to the general public.
Everyday, 3 million Pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists around the world act as partners to patients, other healthcare professionals and other scientists, throughout the whole supply chain and with the shared vision of better health. Medicines must go hand in hand with pharmaceutical expertise (pharmacists). This is a partnership essential to the responsible use of medicines.
Across the globe our profession is clearly demonstrating all the requirements of great partnerships: shared goals, commitment, vital skills, as well as the ability to have difficult tasks and to overcome obstacles.
Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use. A Pharmacist is a member of the healthcare team directly involved with patient care. They are highly regarded as experts of drugs and its usage.
Practice specialization includes:
Academic pharmacist
Clinical pharmacist specialist
Community pharmacist
Hospital pharmacist
Industrial pharmacist
Veterinary pharmacist
Informatics pharmacist
Home health pharmacist
Drug information pharmacist
Nuclear pharmacist
Military pharmacist
Oncology pharmacist
Pharmacist clinical pathologist and toxicologist
Pharmacists are often the first point-of-contact for patients with health inquiries. Thus, Pharmacists have significant roles in assessing medication management in patients, and in referring patients to physicians.
These roles includes:
1. Clinical medication management, including reviewing and monitoring of medication regimen.
2. Assessment of patients with diagnosed and undiagnosed conditions, and ascertaining clinical medication management needs.
3. Specialized monitoring of diseased states, such as dosing drugs in kidney and liver failure.
4. Compounding medication.
5. Providing pharmaceutical information.
6. Providing patients with health monitoring and advice, including treatment of common ailments and disease states.
7. Oversight of dispensing medicines on prescription.
8. Referrals to other heath professionals if necessary.
9. Provision of non-prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
10. Pharmacokinetics evaluation.
11. Promoting public health by administering immunization.
12. Education and counseling for patients and health care provider on optimal use of medicines.
13. Maintain appropriate inventory on pharmaceutical and medical supplies.
14. Supervise pharmacy staff members including: pharmacy technicians and pharmacy clerk.
And lots more.
Pharmacists are everywhere, from major department chains to smaller local grocery stores.
Pharmacist- your most accessible healthcare provider, driving force behind discovering new medicines, key that unlocks all you need to know about your medicines, always with you in sickness and in health.
Discover more. Ask your Pharmacist!!!