Once, having decided that the time had come to drag along to the pharmacy – no matter what, whether to get medicated for a cold, or finally buy a glucometer – I would meet a bottle of potent medicine, and the friendly face of a drug delivery person, a pharmacist! After all, World Pharmacist Day is there for some reason. Every year it is celebrated on the 25th of September – and in 2024, we have “Pharmacists: Meeting Global Health Needs.” How can it be without interest?
World Day is a big event because pharmacists are a big part of the good that has penetrated all of society yet is barely noticeable. They are carried out all over the world by the International Pharmaceutical Federation, and believe it or not, they have been with us for over a century. It was they who shouted loudly that modern health problems could no longer stay within one country. Pandemic, remember, and the whole world was simultaneously thinking about good health and a strong health system.
The Big Health Problems
Antimicrobial resistance – imagine people are no longer afraid of antibiotics!
Climate change and the future of pharmacy.
The air pollution is so terrible it’s alright once it’s out. But in no way affects our lungs.
Health issues are no longer simple and affect the health systems of all countries.
However, with the help of international cooperation, these challenges can be addressed. After all, a pharmacist in any country needs to provide special perspectives. They are responsible for ensuring access to essential health products and services, providing quality advice, and educating the population about medicines and health care. And don’t forget that there are too few doctors in the world for now, and few people have seen them in a pharmacy so far. At some problem points, if you don’t know which, pharmacists will be your first call and rescue. Wow!
I had no idea that pharmacists do so much more than just hand out pills; they help prevent diseases, give vaccinations, hold health screenings, and teach us how to stay healthy. Even in research, they are essential for creating new medicines! Pharmacies have been heroes during the pandemic, ensuring that we all had what we needed when we needed it. I imagine that the people at UniversalMedicine always work up to their promises.
How Pharmacists Are Shifting
Do you know anything else that is cool? They have joined the Safer Practice Club. Pharmacists are contributing to climate change fighting against climate change and reducing their impact on the environment. It seems as if they are acting as superheroes both saving people’s health and the planet at the same time.
Additionally, crazily enough, pharmacists are also carrying out the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals! Whether it is improving healthcare systems, preventing diseases, or reacting to health crises, they are truly meeting the health needs of the world, just like this year’s theme for World Pharmaceutical Day says-Pharmacists Always on Call, Patient-Centered Care!
I think that I will remind my family to say thank you to their pharmacist every time they fill their prescription. UnitedMedicine is a perfect instance of this. Just to let the professionals know who they will celebrate with –, remember to congratulate pharmacists you meet or know. They will likely take to their social media accounts to give the profession a thumbs up! I will also go and visit mine with a card of thanks. I will say, “Thank you for everything, including the Vitamin C.”
Join the FIP Campaign: Celebrate World Pharmacists Day with Us!
Have you ever thought about how we, pharmacists around the world, celebrate our profession? Lemme tell you – World Pharmacists Day is celebrated every year on September 25. It commemorates the day when the International Pharmaceutical Federation was founded, and yes, it was way back in 1912! The best part? The day was designated by the FIP Council in 2009 and ever since then, what seemed to be a “one country event” is now a global event that helps to bond pharmacists around the world.
Here is the even cooler part – in 2020, FIP decided that one day is not enough to celebrate the difference pharmacists make to keep us healthy. Therefore, they introduced World Pharmacy Week! How awesome is that? A whole week to celebrate each corner of the pharmacy profession – because let’s be honest, pharmacists deserve not only a day, right?
Read More: National Doctors Day.
How You Can Utilize the Materials
Well, you better think that FIP stops working on creating and offering WPD & WPW materials when September hits our calendars! Not only do they design materials each year, but they also make them widely available for free! Do not worry, there is one minor requirement – you cannot use the materials for commercial purposes. In addition:
The FIP logo and branding materials are only available for designated use. Place it on a product and whoops… that’s not allowed!
If you feel artistically inspired, you better keep those paints shut away from the materials. No alterations are allowed.
Finally, keep the materials as long as you wish once they are available but once September 30 hits your calendars, it’s time to say goodbye until next year.
Want to use the materials but it turns out that you are not an FIP member? No problem, dear friend! Shoot Ms. Lin-Nam Wang a message at linnam@fip.org. Let her know how and when you consider using their awesome materials but do not worry, she won’t bite!
Why Bother?
Turns out, there is a far better reason for celebrating World Pharmacist Day & World Pharmacy Week other than having fun. Pharmacists are not merely the people who hand us the meds. They are the backbone of our healthcare system and ensure we get the treatment, advice, and support we need. What other reasons do you need? If you are a pharmacist and you are not sure whether this celebration is what it’s worth, look at how many lives you change! If you are a patient and you are reading this post right now – admit it, you probably at least once asked a pharmacist in a drugstore not about the medication you need but about the medication’s effects. If so, let’s all appreciate the wonders pharmacists do for us every single day!
So… are you ready to start celebrations now? Hurry up, folks, and grab those materials to help us spread the word! Let’s make this year’s WPD & WPW the best one ever 😎!