World Pharmacists Day highlights vital role played by pharmacists
MIRI: Pharmacists play a pivotal role in ensuring patients get the right medicine at the right dose and in the most suitable formulation, said state deputy health director (pharmacy) Abu Hassan Alshaari Abdul Jabar yesterday.
He said this when speaking at the opening ceremony of World Pharmacists Day 2018 here where he represented the state health director.
Abu Hassan added that the recognition given to pharmacists for their expertise will hopefully be reflected in future policymaking decisions in the regulation of medications in Malaysia.
Apart from focusing on this year’s theme ‘Pharmacists Are Your Medicine Experts’, he said the event also promoted awareness of antibiotics due to the alarming increase in antibiotic resistance in Malaysia.
The event gathered pharmacists from both the public and private sectors.
World Pharmacists Day was the brainchild of the International Pharmaceutical Federation at the 2009 Council Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey during the International Pharmaceutical Federation Congress (FIP).
FIP is the global federation comprising national associations of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, which has official ties with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The International Pharmaceutical Federation has been using World Pharmacists Day which falls on Sept 25 to highlight the importance of pharmacists and the benefits they offer when it comes to providing best healthcare,” Abu Hassan said.
He added the event yesterday was also to encourage activities that promote and advocate the role of the pharmacists in improving health among the people.
Abu Hassan disclosed that a different theme is chosen each year so that the associates and individuals in the pharmaceutical industry can put together campaigns or local projects to showcase the work they do in helping to improve the health of people around the world.
The event was jointly organised by the state Health Department’s pharmaceutical services division together with the Sarawak Pharmaceutical Society and BintangMegamall.
It offered a platform for pharmacists to come together and share knowledge, experiences and practices in the field of pharmacy.
Among the activities held during the programme were free medical counselling services, health exhibition and health screening.
Also present were senior assistant director for pharmacy enforcement unit Benodict Apok Talin, Miri Hospital director Dr Jack Wong, representative of Miri health officer Dr Wong Yong Kai as well as Miri Divisional pharmacist and director for World Pharmacy Day Northern Zone programme Eileen Yi Sze Shin.