World Pharmacists Day 2014

Today is World Pharmacists Day, giving Australian pharmacists, who are among the top three trusted professions in the nation, plenty of reasons to smile.

The day is an initiative of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and is celebrated annually in a move to promote and advocate for the role of the pharmacist in upholding the health of individuals the world over.

The theme of this year's WPD is 'Access to pharmacists is access to health', aimed at creating public awareness of Australia's 28,000 pharmacists' roles in supporting healthy communities through essential healthcare services through both the supply of medicines and health advice.

Pharmacists and pharmacy students will be partaking in a series of health promotion events, health check services and fun activities planned for the day.

World Pharmacists Day events will feature the Pharmacy Society of Australia’s (PSA) Self Care program, that provides evidence based, independent health information, advice and health promotion tools to pharmacists to use in their communities.

At Chemistworks Broadway in Sydney there will be comprehensive health checks, and the community in Orange, NSW will enjoy compounding demonstrations at Discount Drug Store, while Hunter St Mall, Newcastle will feature a pop-up stall providing health advice and blood pressure checks to city workers.

In Victoria, early career pharmacists and pharmacy students will be handing out Self Care fact cards to the public in Melbourne and Bendigo, including medicines.

In WA, a partnership between PSA and the Western Australian Pharmacy Students Association (WAPSA) will see pharmacists and pharmacy students at a pop-up stall at Waterford Plaza Shopping Centre, Karawara, providing health advice to community members.