National Board recognises important role of pharmacists in improving community health

25 Sep 2021

'Pharmacy: Always trusted for your health' is the theme of this year’s World Pharmacists Day on 25 September 2021.

The theme highlights the important role pharmacists have in improving community health across Australia.

On behalf of the Pharmacy Board of Australia (the Board), on World Pharmacists Day I would like to acknowledge the significant efforts of all pharmacists in providing essential patient care and contributing to the health of people in Australia.

Pharmacists are often the most accessible health professionals the public encounter and pharmacy is among the most trusted professions in Australia. Pharmacists have earned this trust through their competence, demonstrating consistently high standards of skill and care and building strong relationships with the community.

The pharmacy profession provides high quality healthcare services and advice and this is supported by a range of pharmacy roles that may not be so visible to the public. This includes the education of our future pharmacists, research and evaluation of new medicines, providing advice to governments on pharmaceutical policy and in our defence forces.

I would also like to mention those pharmacists who recently retired from practice and have answered the call to form part of the pandemic response sub-register, set up by the Board and Ahpra to assist in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These qualified and experienced pharmacists join other health practitioners in forming an important part of our national response. Pharmacists, interns, students and pharmacy support staff are also supporting these efforts by assisting the COVID-19 vaccination rollout.

As the body responsible for regulating Australia’s 35,262* pharmacists, the Board sets out the registration standards that establish the requirements for pharmacists to be registered to practise competently and safely in Australia. It also publishes codes and guidelines for pharmacists to provide guidance on practice of the profession.

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank all pharmacists in the varied roles in which they practise for the difference they make to the current and future health of people in Australian communities.

Brett Simmonds
Chair
Pharmacy Board of Australia

For more information

• Follow the conversation on social media, using the #WorldPharmacistsDay and #WPD2021 hashtags.
• Lodge an online enquiry.
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 9285 3010 (overseas callers).
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200.

*As at 30 June 2021.