Pharmacist holds key role in quest for good living

As we celebrate the tenth World Pharmacists Day, we appreciate and value the role that every pharmacist has played in transforming global health.

Pharmacists use this day to organise activities that promote and advocate for their role in improving health.

This year’s theme Transforming Global Health shows how pharmacists are transforming services in their communities, including advising on healthy living, vaccinating to prevent disease and ensuring that medicines are taken correctly.

Pharmacy educators are transforming outcomes by ensuring that there is enough qualified and competent pharmacists to meet growing needs of society.

Pharmacists are a trusted adviser to the cross functional partners, and this is highly dependent on the high level of knowledge on the science of products aided by their background in Pharmacy.

RISK EVALUATION

Pharmacists act as a link between drug manufacturing organisations and regulatory bodies such as Pharmacy and Poisons Board, which ensures registration of the right medicines.

The end to end regulatory process has, therefore, ensured that patients receive safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and vaccines.

As pharmacists in manufacturing and supply of medicines, we have played a key role in transforming global health in relation to pharmacovigilance.

Pharmacovigilance involves collection, detection, assessment, monitoring, and prevention of adverse events in clinical trials and supplied products.

Continuous monitoring and reporting of adverse events form a core role of the pharmacist.

Information is obtained from patients, clinicians, distributors, digital media, among others.

This information is used in evaluation of risks and benefits of medicines in line with regulatory authorities.

Pharmacovigilance has greatly helped the patients and healthcare providers to have updated understanding on potential adverse events that would gravely affect patients who would want to take medicines and vaccines.

QUALITY MEDICINE

The assurance that the community is receiving safe and effective medicines has led to the well-being of the patient.

In the actual manufacturing process, the pharmacist ensures there is robust quality assurance system in place which guarantees manufacturing of medicines and vaccines to appropriate quality and safety.

The pharmacist has, therefore, played an important role in transforming global health by participating in manufacturing of medicines that are life-maintaining and life-restoring.

The life of the patient is at stake and the doctor seeking to treat the patient always endeavours to get quality drugs.

A compromise on quality of medicines means a compromise on overall health of the patient.

Manufacturing of reliable and quality medicines in transforming global health cannot be overemphasised.