Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Pharmacist Syed Skandar Shah made a statement on the occasion of the 25th September World Pharmacist Day:

“ Today is 25th September and this day is celebrated as “World Pharmacist Day”. The theme of this year’s World Pharmacists Day, 2019 is “Safe and effective medicines for all” has announced by International Pharmaceutical Federation.

World Pharmacists Day was the brainchild of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), with the council of this organization voting to establish the event in the late 2000s during a conference they staged in Istanbul, Turkey. The aim of the day is to bring attention to pharmacies and the positive benefits they offer when it comes to health.

This theme for 2019 aims to promote pharmacists’ crucial role in safeguarding patient safety through improving medicines use and reducing medication errors. Studies show that a significant number of patients are harmed during health care, resulting in permanent injury, increased length of stay in healthcare facilities, or even death.“Medication errors “ are a contributing factor to this and pharmacists have a vital role in curtailing this global health challenge. Pharmacists use their broad knowledge and unique expertise to ensure that people get the best from their medicines. We ensure access to medicines and their appropriate use, improve adherence, coordinate care transitions and so much more.

Hospital pharmacists make sure patients receive the most effective and appropriate medicines. They are responsible for the ordering, quality testing, storage and security of the drugs and medicines. They supervise the preparation of drugs according to prescriptions, dispense drugs to patients and staff, and advise on their use, safety and effects.

Hospital pharmacists work closely with doctors, nurses, pharmacy technicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients receive the best treatment. This includes discussing appropriate medicines, or safe combinations of drugs in a course of treatment, and monitoring to make sure the right dose has been prescribed. The hospital pharmacist can also advise other medical staff on the correct dosage, the most appropriate form of medicine for the patient (for example tablet, injection or inhaler) and any likely reactions between the medicine and different drugs or foods being taken by the patient. In most hospitals, pharmacists have direct contact with patients on the ward. They check their medical history, advise them on how to take medicines, and discuss any possible side-effects. Most medicines arrive at the hospital ready-made, although the pharmacist might have to mix some ingredients for tablets, liquids or ointments for one-off preparations. Hospital pharmacists are able to specialise in a wide variety of areas. Apart from clinical pharmacy (working with other medical staff on the wards), these areas include outpatient care (medicines for people who visit hospital without staying the night), cancer care, older adults, and palliative care (for terminally ill patients). Some pharmacists work in drug information departments. They test the claims of pharmaceutical companies and reports from clinical trials. This work ensures that the hospital uses effective and cost-effective products. Internet and database searches are important in these departments. Outside the hospital, pharmacists also advise staff and patients in residential nursing homes and local health clinics. Hospital pharmacy relies heavily on computers. They help with day-to-day work, such as storing information, stock control and drug monitoring. Pharmacists might also use the internet and databases when answering enquiries from hospital staff and from patients or members of the public. Pharmacists supervise the work of pharmacy technicians. Technicians prepare medicines according to a prescription, and dispense them to patients or to the hospital staff who treat patients. The role of the hospital pharmacist is expanding. For example, there are opportunities to prescribe treatments. So, for example, the doctor will make a diagnosis and the pharmacist will create an individualised treatment plan. This is known as supplementary prescribing; it is well suited to patients with long-term diseases who need to have their drug treatment regularly reviewed. Pharmacists can also train as ‘independent prescribers’. This enables them to assess the patient’s condition and prescribe the appropriate medicine, leaving doctors more time for other work. A hospital pharmacist who can prescribe independently would get information from doctors, nurses and test results, and use this to make decisions about prescribing. They can also specialise as consultants, in areas such as haematology (blood), respiratory medicine or infectious diseases. Hospital pharmacists can run specialist clinics for patients in advanced countries with long-term conditions. Some hospital pharmacists visit patients in the community, in places such as residential care homes and local health clinics.

Hospital pharmacist is responsible for proper, safe and effective use of medication to improve health and patient quality of life. In short, medicine without pharmacist is poison while poison in the hand of pharmacist is a remedy.

My dear colleagues, You are doing a great job and I ; Syed Sıkandar Shah (Incharge Pharmacist at Dr. Suat Günsel Girne University Hospital) wish you a happy World Pharmacist Day.”