General News
30 September, 2020
Pharmacists celebrated
LAST Friday, September 25, marked World Pharmacists Day.
LAST Friday, September 25, marked World Pharmacists Day.
The day, dedicated to pharmacists, sought to recognise and reflect the great work they do to provide their communities with the best possible medications and care.
Now in its 10th year, this year’s theme for World Pharmacists Day was ‘Transforming global health’ and admires the continual work that pharmacists do to continue to provide for their communities and the constant changes in the medicinal field.
Bianca May Hope, owner of the Discount Drug Store in Mareeba has been living and working as the resident pharmacist for more than 15 years and counts 2020 among her most challenging.
“There has been a lot more pressure on pharmacies to try and bridge the gap between the doctor and the patient as many patients were doing teleconferences, so we were their face to face contact,” she said.
“The most challenging thing was the increase in script volume in conjunction with major nation-wide medication short- ages, this was very difficult to manage on a daily basis.
“Everyone was also very unsure of what was happening in the immediate future so people were naturally scared and trying to prepare for the unknown.”
Pharamcy was never at the top of her list but when Mrs Hope found herself within the pharmacy field she made the best of it.
“As a pharmacist we see everything from minor injuries all the way till complex issues that we have to refer to the hospital,” Mrs Hope said.
“I enjoy talking to people and seeing how they are going, just being involved in what their life is and what their stories are.
“Obviously making sure that I am making a difference in people’s health but being a part of their health journey is an added bonus.”
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President George Tambassis said celebrating the work of pharamcists was especially relevant this year.
“Communities throughout Australia have relied heavily on their pharmacists to help them get through some of the challenges we have all faced this year,” he said.
“These challenges have included the bushfires, floods, drought and of course COVID-19.
“But I am immensely proud to say that regardless of the emergency or crisis, community pharmacists have been there for their patients.”
