More Services from Pharmacists Celebrated

More Services from Pharmacists Celebrated on World Pharmacists’ Day

The 25th of September is World Pharmacists Day and New Zealand pharmacists will join their colleagues around the globe in celebrating their roles in health care and in research.

“The Government has recognised that pharmacists are an untapped resource given their five years of professional training and this is articulated in the Pharmacy Action Plan launched in by The Minister of Health in 2016.” says Graeme Smith, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand. “The Action Plan aligns with the New Zealand Health Strategy and aims to make greater use of the skills and training of the pharmacist as a member of an integrated health care team.”

Enhanced services that pharmacists now provide include medication review, warfarin monitoring, a range of vaccinations, emergency contraception, treatment for urinary tract infections, treatment for erectile dysfunction and soon to be introduced repeat prescriptions for the contraceptive pill.

“Already this year we have seen pharmacists able to administer subsidised flu vaccinations to pregnant women and people aged over 65” says Mr Smith. “A Minor Ailments Scheme provided to targeted populations by pharmacists is the next section of the Plan under consideration”.

Recent research indicates that the public are largely unaware of how pharmacists are trained, their requirement for ongoing professional development and the range of services provided to the public. Pharmacists also play an important part in the development and trial of new medicines.

With this in mind the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand, the peak professional organisation representing 4000 pharmacists, is creating an animated video to educate patients about how their pharmacist can help them by providing trusted health advice.

“The video will explain in a simple and entertaining way who we are as pharmacists and what we do ” says Mr Smith. “We expect to release the video early in October.”

ENDS

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