Hospital Pharmacists united in action on World Pharmacists Day
The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) has marked 2022 World Pharmacists Day by shining the spotlight on members, who are ‘united in action’ across the country as well as in expert, interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
- Susie Welch (NSW) will be spending time with her family, although ‘most recently we have promoted World Pharmacists Day celebrations to others in the hospital, ensuring that hospital pharmacists are continually recognized as key members of the health care team.’
- In Victoria’s High Country, Susan Trevillian says 'hopefully instead of looking at multiple snow-covered peaks from my front verandah, I’ll be up on the mountain having fun with my family in the snow. However I’m mindful that one of our home-grown early career pharmacists will be doing their first week on-call for the hospital on World Pharmacists Day!'
- Meanwhile, enjoying a career break, Bonnie Tai (Qld) will celebrate the day 'by sending thank you messages and funny memes to my pharmacy friends across Australia, and tweeting about World Pharmacists Day on Twitter all day long.'
Held this Sunday 25 September, World Pharmacists Day comes at a busy time for Australian pharmacy on the world stage, after Sydney-based Paul Sinclair AM was elected to the next four-year FIP Presidency, which will begin when Brisbane hosts the next annual congress in September 2023, with SHPA as one of four co-hosts, alongside FIP, the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
SHPA Vice President Dr Jacinta Johnson says the annual day of reflection is important, as many Australians rely on regular medicines to maintain their health and their quality of life.
‘Pharmacists contribute to better health by ensuring that our communities get the most out of the medicines they use, we provide the valuable education and advice consumers need to use medicines safely and effectively, and we make sure people can access the medicines they need when they need them.
‘The 2022 World Pharmacists Day theme “Pharmacy united in action” carries double meaning for Australia’s hospital pharmacists and their technician and healthcare peers. Our members are united through countless cross-country communities, specialty networks of collaboration and support that enable their unique pharmacy expertise to shape the profession, education and national health policy.
‘Hospital pharmacists are also united with their inter-disciplinary colleagues, working together to optimise the care of every patient through the most effective use of limited resources.
‘This includes innovative, emerging roles at transitions of care and in aged care settings; partnered, collaborative prescribing and medication charting; as well as hospital-initiated care pathways that help ensure expert advice on quality and safe use of medicines is never far away.’