Record support on Thank Your Pharmacist Day

Industry
By
Chloe Hava
-
#ThankYourPharmacistDay2023

Politicians, patients and pharmacists turned out in droves to support their everyday heroes.

Australia’s 36,000 practicing pharmacists show up for their communities every day – through pandemics, natural disasters, and ongoing medicine shortages.

The show of support on #ThankYourPharmacistDay2023 last week (16 March 2023) demonstrated just how aware the nation is of pharmacists’ ongoing dedication.

The PSA National President Dr Fei Sim kicked off the celebrations by declaring ‘Every single pharmacist is a hero’.

‘#ThankYourPharmacistDay is an opportunity for communities to come together and celebrate the hard work and dedication of all pharmacists,’ she said.

‘I have spent the last 12 months meeting hundreds of pharmacists from around Australia who all share a passion for healthcare and have dedicated their lives to improving the health of their communities.’ 

Politicians voice support for pharmacists

As pharmacy scope of practice continues to expand around Australia, and the community is poised to rely more than ever on pharmacists for healthcare services, politicians took the opportunity to thank pharmacists for their service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Up to 150 politicians of all persuasions acknowledged the tireless work of pharmacists for their communities, including health ministers at a state and federal level.

 

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A post shared by Natasha Fyles MLA (@natashafylesmla)

‘Pharmacists every single day are not just dispensing medicines, they’re giving health advice to members of their community. And we were reminded of how accessible they are to us right through the worst phases of the COVID-19 pandemic,’ said federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler.

 

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A post shared by Rachel Stephen-Smith (@rachelss_mla)

‘You’re encouraged to visit a local pharmacy and thank your pharmacist for the important work they do each and every day,’ added Queensland Minister for Health Yvette D’ath.

Many MPs opted to drop by the local community pharmacies in their electorates to champion their everyday heroes, including Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan.

 

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A post shared by Mark McGowan (@mark_mcgowan_mp)

Pharmacist and member for Dobell Emma McBride understands the importance of pharmacists to their communities from both sides of the coin. She showed her appreciation for the profession by dropping into her local pharmacy for a chat.

 

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A post shared by Emma McBride MP (@emmamcbridemp)

Patients and pharmacists get in on the action

In a story that encapsulates the difference pharmacists can make to the lives of their patients, Tae Richards told PSA about the transformative care GP pharmacist Brooke Shelly MPS provides for her son Jakob.

Patients also took the opportunity to thank their pharmacists for helping them prepare for travel, and for delivering medicines when they were sick with COVID-19.

While #ThankYourPharmacistDay is about showing appreciation for an integral healthcare profession that is too often overlooked and undervalued, it also provides an opportunity for pharmacists from all settings to reflect on their own contribution, and that of their peers.

‘I feel so lucky that I get to collaborate with amazing pharmacists across Australia everyday to drive exciting, innovative initiatives to improve medicine safety,’ said Amanda Cross MPS, Research Fellow at Monash University’s Centre for Medicine Use and Safety and PSA Victorian 2019 Early Career Pharmacist of the Year.

With sweeping change underway in the profession, pharmacists also expressed excitement about scope of practice expansion and wider involvement in healthcare teams.

‘With the expansion of pharmacist services, we are now the go-to for vaccination services, minor ailment management and referral, wound care and medication compliance and review – ensuring patients are optimally managed to assist them to live their best life,’ said Canberra Pharmacy owner and men’s health advocate Brad Butt MPS.

‘There is good evidence that patients have better outcomes if their care is managed by a multidisciplinary team. Pharmacist’s knowledge of medicines, and the connection with the individual patients, is integral to that team care approach,’ added WA-based community pharmacist and professional services manager Joe Foster MPS.

To read inspirational stories from your fellow pharmacists and learn more about the meaning behind Thank Your Pharmacist Day, click here.