Pharmacist: A fundamental pillar of community and environmental health – something for the homeland – ✍️ Eng. Salah Ghariba
The world celebrates World Pharmacist Day every year on September 25 as an opportunity to highlight the central role of the pharmacist in community health and to appreciate their continued efforts to provide safe and effective pharmaceutical care. In this context, the celebration of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Cairo University this year, which bears an expressive slogan “The Societal and Environmental Impact of the Pharmaceutical Profession”, confirms that the role of the pharmacist goes beyond the pharmacy to reach the heart of society and the environment.
The profession of pharmacist has grown considerably over the years, transforming the pharmacist from a simple distributor of medicines into an essential partner of the medical team. Thanks to his extensive experience in the field of medicines, the pharmacist is able to provide patients with the necessary drug consultations and ensure that they use the medicines correctly, thus helping to improve treatment results and reduce the side effects of medications.
The role of the pharmacist is not limited to individual health care, but extends to the protection of the environment and society. The pharmaceutical industry and the hazardous disposal of pharmaceutical waste have negative impacts on the environment and water resources. Hence the importance of raising awareness among pharmacists about the importance of good pharmaceutical waste management and seeking environmentally friendly alternatives in the pharmaceutical industry.
World Pharmacist Day celebrations play a vital role in raising awareness in the community and highlighting the vital role that the pharmacist plays in society, encouraging the public to benefit from their services, strengthening cooperation between pharmacists and other health professionals, and among pharmacists themselves, and providing a platform for the exchange of experiences and knowledge among experts and researchers in the field of pharmacy, encouraging pharmacists to innovate and develop pharmaceutical drugs and services, appreciating the efforts of pharmacists and encouraging them to continue providing the best services.
Despite the great development observed by the pharmaceutical profession, it faces many challenges, including the spread of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, which threatens public health, the spread of counterfeit drugs that threaten the health of patients and harm the legitimate pharmaceutical industry, and changes in the legislation and regulations that govern the practice of pharmacy.
The pharmacist is a fundamental pillar of the health of society and the environment, and his role is not limited to the dispensing of medicines, but extends beyond drug consultation, health awareness and participation in scientific research. By celebrating World Pharmacist Day, we seek to honor the efforts of pharmacists and encourage them to continue working for better health for our community.
Developing the profession of pharmacist by encouraging pharmacists to follow scientific developments in the field of pharmacy through continuing education programs, providing material and moral support for scientific research in the field of pharmacy, expanding pharmaceutical services to include new services such as pharmaceutical care for chronic patients, management of chronic diseases and strengthening international cooperation among pharmacists to exchange experiences and knowledge.
The profession of pharmacy is a noble profession that contributes significantly to improving the health of communities and protecting the environment. Through teamwork and continued collaboration, we can build a better future for health and pharmacy.
