Reiterating its role and commitment towards patient safety and health on the eve of World Pharmacists day, pharmacists have urged the government to formulate healthcare policies to boost their role towards making healthy India and patient safety at large because pharmacist is a vital link between the patient and allied healthcare professionals.
Every year, 25th September is celebrated as World Pharmacists Day (WPD) globally as designated by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Council. It clearly signifies the importance of a pharmacist right from manufacturing to final delivery of the product to the patient and thus improving access to medicines.
World Pharmacists day becomes all the important in today’s context as there has been greater emphasis and awareness being generated today about Adverse Drug Reaction Induced by Drugs (specific ADR). Government of late has equipped healthcare professionals on know how on ADRs through specific training programmes which marks a positive and impactful step in this direction.
This has become the need of the hour a drug-induced disease is the unintended effect of a drug that results in mortality or morbidity with symptoms sufficient to prompt a patient to seek medical attention and/or to require hospitalisation. Despite best efforts to ensure the safety and effectiveness of all drugs, millions of patients each year develop drug-induced diseases that increase the overall healthcare cost. That is why, pharmacists need to get a policy friendly environment to offer their professional services in the right manner, which will be a boon for the healthcare system in India.
In order to generate awareness about pharmacist’s role in healthcare, there is a need to sensitize policy makers about the role of pharmacist in healthcare for better patient safety.
Several years ago, International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) congress in Istanbul, Turkey designated 25th September as annual World Pharmacist day. The day is celebrated to organize activities that promote and advocate the role of pharmacist in improving health in every corner of the world. Each year a new theme is developed to showcase the pharmacist in their positive role on health.
From research to health care: Your pharmacist is at your service” is the theme of this year’s World Pharmacists Day. ‘This theme was chosen to reflect the numerous contributions the pharmacy profession makes to health. From research and development of medicines, to educating future pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, and providing direct care, we do all this in the service of our patients and communities.
The pharmacists are the backbone of health care in many different settings. Providing care does not begin in community or hospital pharmacies but taking care of patients starts with recognising the health issues of populations and developing medicines, policies and education to tackle them. Pharmacists act at the very beginning of the process; when the first molecule that effectively treats a disease is identified.
One of FIP’s key strategic objectives is to “advance pharmacy practice on a global level”. By celebrating World Pharmacists Day, FIP is not only raising awareness of the role of the pharmacist in healthcare but also promoting their role through increased community involvement on national and local levels.
