Pharmacists around the world got together—virtually or otherwise—to celebrate their special day on Friday
Australian and New Zealand pharmacists were as always among the first to celebrate World Pharmacists Day on 25 September, and events continued around the world as members of the profession and their supporters highlighted their work and role in different health systems.
The work pharmacists have done in helping manage the COVID-19 pandemic was a theme for many participants.
In Canada, the Ontario Pharmacists Association asked patients to, “Keep your pharmacist safe! Don’t visit the pharmacy if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.“
In Jammu, India, Sushil Sudan, Member Pharmacy Council of India and Association president, urged pharmacists to dedicate themselves to helping people who are suffering, and said of COVID-19 that, “together we will defeat the virus.”
Some stakeholders highlighted problems in the sector: for example in Nigeria the One Love Foundation’s president Chief Patrick Eholor said that “unscrupulous” elements had infiltrated the sector: “It is really unfortunate that Nigeria hasn’t been able to regulate that sensitive industry, whereby a lot of people have suffered and died in their hands prematurely because of some individuals who have no business in that practice,” he said.
In the UK, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee used the day to publish a joint statement which outlines a commitment to work collaboratively to improve inclusion and diversity across the pharmacy profession.
In Malaysia Amrahi Buang, president of the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society, penned a piece thanking the world’s pharmacists and highlighting the day as an opportunity to showcase what they do.
Across the Tasman, PHARMAC Chief Executive Sarah Fitt said the organisation is grateful for the support shown by pharmacists in handling shortages due to COVID-19.
“It feels appropriate as we mark World Pharmacists Day 2020 to acknowledge vital work our community and hospital pharmacists do to serve their communities so well, despite the challenges COVID-19 continues to bring,” she said.
And pharmacy stakeholder groups, supporters, pharmacists and students all took to social media to celebrate.
‘Pharmacists have a wealth of knowledge and lots of underappreciated skills.’
We’re celebrating all the great work pharmacists do today on #WorldPharmacistsDay.
Laura, a Primary Care Network Pharmacist, tells us why she’ll be showing appreciation for her colleagues today! 💙💊 pic.twitter.com/TtsyVzd6IB
— NHS England and NHS Improvement (@NHSEngland) September 25, 2020
Happy World Pharmacists Day!🥳
We are proud to be friends of the human race.☺️💊⚕️Please dm us your picture and have your twibbons made for you. 🥼 #WorldPharmacistsDay#WPD2020#TransformingGlobalHealth
POWERED BY PHARMEDIA📸 pic.twitter.com/CZoCpBiwrE
— GPSA KNUST (@gpsa_knust) September 25, 2020
Let’s pay our #pharmacists their due wishes and salute them for helping patients.
A very happy #WorldPharmacistsDay to all of you!#ProudlyEmpowering pic.twitter.com/tMDyVYDQFK— Makhzoumi Foundation (@makhzoumi) September 25, 2020
Today is the 10th World #Pharmacists Day a day we recognize #pharmacists’ role in transforming global health. During the pandemic, pharmacists played an essential role. We celebrate their sacrifices & remember the ones we have lost to COVID-19. #WPD2020https://t.co/90NhGUeDjL pic.twitter.com/b9S7PNVqht
— APhA HQ (@pharmacists) September 25, 2020
Viva la Pharmacie!!!
Happy #WorldPharmacistsDay to me and all my noble colleagues around the globe🎊🎊 pic.twitter.com/1jrioPOBgS— Uyioghosa Benedo (@RxBenedo_03) September 25, 2020
On #WorldPharmacistsDay I want to pay tribute to pharmacists and staff working in pharmacies who provide vital care to their communities. Throughout this pandemic, they have been on the frontline working hard to share healthcare advice and ensure continuity of medicine supply.
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) September 25, 2020
Its World Pharmacist Day…
Let's spread the word..
Transforming Global health#WorldPharmacistsDay pic.twitter.com/kNQ4dhMVM7— Ajibade 'Neeyee 🇨🇦 (@I_am_Neeyee) September 25, 2020
It's #WorldPharmacistsDay
Quote this tweet with a picture of you in a ward coat or in a pharmacy ☺️ pic.twitter.com/asyCz4ihI3— D A N E E ➐ (@Danee_nk) September 25, 2020
#Pharmacist_ko_moqa_do#WorldPharmacistsDay
Pharmacy is not only about art of medicine & dispensing, it also about care & love for humanity 😇😇
A superhuman who turn bunch of dangerous chemical into a life saving drug.💊#Proud_to_be_Pharmacist🥼— Dr Farhan khan (@farhansiraj432) September 25, 2020
Happy #Worldpharmacistday2020 to all the fabulous pharmacists around the world 🌏 So proud to be a member of the profession I wanted to be a part of since I was 13 years old! Shout out to our wider pharmacy team for helping us care for our patients. #WPD2020 #WorldPharmacistsDay pic.twitter.com/5x4epPv8GB
— Yasmin Abdul Aziz (@YasminAbdulNZ) September 25, 2020
Everyone can receive a thousand Prescriptions but only a PHARMACIST can identify a
“DRUG THERAPY PROBLEM”
Which is a unique contributions of the pharmaceutical care.#happyworldpharmacistday#Worldpharmacistday2020 #WorldPharmacistsDay pic.twitter.com/EWzUp7VVXH
— Abigail (@Gloosynora) September 25, 2020
Words of advice: Take your pharmacist out and marry them too😂😂😂😂
Once again Happy #WorldPharmacistsDay 😁😁😁😊😊 pic.twitter.com/3J1Sttw4JZ— Your Guardian Angel 🇺🇬🇷🇼 (@TobiasWhales) September 25, 2020
This #WorldPharmacistsDay, we have more reasons than ever to celebrate the wonderful #pharmacists working in our communities. They stepped up and fought tirelessly in the frontlines to keep Ontarians safe when almost everything shut down and continue to do so. Thank you! pic.twitter.com/4WIV8tjv88
— Ontario Pharmacists Association (@OntPharmacists) September 25, 2020