World Pharmacists Day Blog Series

World Pharmacists Day 2024 invites the opportunity to reflect on the role, value and contribution of our profession in providing holistic and patient-centred care to the population. 

Focusing on the theme of meeting global health needs, we are directed by the UN goal to "Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages."1 Of course, this most definitely and importantly includes the care of older people. With the number of people aged 80 or over projected to increase threefold between 2017 and 2050, our input is more vital than ever.2 

Pharmacists also have an integral part to play to strengthen global health security through improved preparedness and response to future epidemics, pandemics, drug-resistant infections and climate change.3 

We have come far from our early roots as apothecaries, which enabled anyone to have access to healthcare. Our role has developed so that pharmacy is firmly established as a distinct clinical profession. 

We support provision and access to medications to ensure clinical outcomes are achieved; we supply and administer vaccinations; we ensure antimicrobial stewardship (preventing future drug resistance); we implement green initiatives to minimise environmental waste; we act as a first point of contact for healthcare advice in the community (a valuable lifeline for many during the Covid-19 pandemic); we carry out complex medication reviews; we educate the next generation of pharmacists (now graduating as prescribers from 2026); and we lead in the research and manufacture of new treatments, drugs and services. Pharmacists are joining the MDT as advanced clinical practitioners, educators and researchers. We support prescribing and deprescribing. Our role continues to evolve and develop.  

The British Geriatrics Society has recognised our involvement in working together to prevent harm and improve outcomes for older people living with frailty through the creation of a Pharmacy Professionals Group that is growing in membership and reach. As a group, we recognise the value that pharmacy technicians bring; our outcomes could not be achieved without their involvement as part of the MDT. 

My colleagues - pharmacists within the BGS working in their respective sectors of the healthcare system - explain how their role serves to support the care of members of our population living with frailty. I hope that you will be inspired, encouraged and able to recognise the work that is being carried out across our nation as you read their blogs. 

References

  1. Health - United Nations Sustainable Development 
  2. World population projected to reach 9.8 billion in 2050, and 11.2 billion in 2100 | UN DESA | United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs 
  3. Global Health Framework: working together towards a healthier world, May 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)