In acknowledgement of the International Pharmaceutical Federation’s World Pharmacist Day 2020, the theme of which is “Transforming Global Health”, Dr Jim Livingstone, President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, made the following statement:
“On behalf of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, on World Pharmacist Day, I celebrate the extraordinary contribution that pharmacists in Northern Ireland make in transforming health care.
Transforming the health of communities, countries and even the globe starts with individual patients. Increasingly, pharmacists working with other health professionals as part of an integrated healthcare team are intervening and educating to improve individuals’ health and fitness, preventing illness where possible and intervening appropriately when an individual’s health is compromised.
Pharmacists work tirelessly in all these areas; from providing expert health advice, such as smoking cessation schemes and weight loss advice, to administering flu vaccines, to being the medicines experts who provide assurance on the safe and effective treatment of patients’ conditions.
During the current pandemic, pharmacists’ experience, knowledge, medicines expertise and, crucially, their human connection with the people they serve, has again proven vital in ensuring that people get the best from their medicines and care.
Pharmacists in hospitals, general practice, community pharmacy and care settings continue to show their resilience and ability to adapt to unique and challenging circumstances, developing new ways of working, interacting with and serving their patients.
Pharmacists working in the pharmaceutical sciences are developing new, safe and effective medicines and vaccines which will transform global health. Pharmacy educators and tutors are continuing to transform health outcomes by training and developing the next generation of pharmacists to meet the growing needs of our diverse community.
The Pharmaceutical Society NI continues to support the transformational role of pharmacists by ensuring that, while regulatory standards and guidance protect the public, they also enable positive innovation and development within the profession.
In the face of current challenges and the increasingly enhanced roles for pharmacists in detection, prevention and treatment of minor illness, it is crucial that we continue to work with the public, pharmacists and other stakeholders in Northern Ireland to continue to ensure public safety and to positively transform health across Northern Ireland.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact Mark Neale at the Pharmaceutical Society NI on 028 9026 7933 or mark.neale@psni.org.uk
Notes to editors
The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland is the regulatory body for pharmacists in Northern Ireland. Our primary purpose is to ensure practising pharmacists in Northern Ireland are fit to practise, keep their skills and knowledge up to date and deliver high quality, safe care to patients.