The World Pharmacists Day is a day set aside by the International Pharmaceutical Federation; FIP (FIP is the global federation representing three million pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists) to remind the society of the invaluable service performed by Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical scientists as integral part of the health team. The inaugural World Pharmacists Day, took place on 25 September 2010.

This year, World Pharmacists Day is set on the theme Pharmacists – simplifying your medicines use, no matter how complex.

This theme parallels the theme of the 73rd FIP World Congress: Towards a Future Vision for Complex Patients: Integrated Care in a Dynamic Continuum. As more solutions become available to patients – whether they are medicines, therapies or services provided by healthcare providers – pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists can help with their ever more complex care.

The understanding and treatment of human diseases is complicated and challenging because patients themselves are complex. The more straightforward and simple a medication regimen is to follow, the more likely a patient will remain compliant and adherent to their therapy. Pharmacists are in a prime position to help patients take their medications in a timely and appropriate manner to ensure that they receive the full benefit of therapy. A pharmacist can help prevent delays or non-adherence to their therapy that would otherwise significantly impact their treatment course and overall health.

For more information contact: Pharmacy unit, Health Centre.

http://www.oauife.edu.ng/2013/09/world-pharmacists-day-25-september-2013/

This is the theme and lecture in commemoration of World Pharmacist Day (Today). Read and digest . Excerpts: PHARMACISTS - SIMPLIFYING YOUR MEDICINES USE, NO MATTER HOW COMPLEX
The pharmacist, as we all know, is the most accessible healthcare professional. By training, his focus is to ensure the patient gets optimal benefit from his medication. It therefore behoves him not only to ensure the right patient gets the appropriate or right medication but that this right patient also uses the appropriate medication the best way possible with minimal stress or discomfort to him / her.
Medicine use can be herculean especially when there are many pills to take and they have to be taken for a long time. In this article, we will look at factors that influence medicines use and the role of the pharmacist in simplifying your medicines use.
Factors that influence medicines use
The person:
Knowledge about his/her condition: the more understanding one has about his condition the more the likelihood that he would take the prescribed medication as prescribed. Let’s take hypertension for example. Hypertension is generally not curable and can only be managed meaning the hypertensive patient depends on his medication to achieve control of his blood pressure. Many patients have very poor knowledge of hypertension. Some patients think hypertension is curable and measure cure by normal blood pressure values so once their blood pressure gets to normal value they stop their medication thinking they have been cured. Some other patients think that if by one month of taking a medication their blood pressure dropped from 160/100 to 140/90 then by the 3rd month it would have dropped to 100/70! However, it does not go that way.

Knowledge about his/her medication: When a patient is properly informed about his medication, it is easier to get his commitment. Unfortunately, many patients are either not informed or partially informed. The side effects, adverse reactions and what to do if they occur should be properly explained to the patient. This puts him on top his medication and makes him take charge. For instance if a patient knows that a medicine like halfan should be taken before food and why, it is very unlikely that he would not adhere to therapy.

Attitude towards life/ his or her condition: Obviously, someone who has given up on his condition is very likely to be nonchalant about his medication

Age: Adolescents and young adults are less likely to adhere to therapy especially when long-term than the elderly. However, the elderly are more likely to forget to take their medication or inadvertently take overdose.

Religion : The religious beliefs of a patient can influence his medicine use. For instance it is generally difficult for some Muslims or Christians to take medication during the fast period.
Other factors like educational status and culture also influence medicines use.

More to come soon..

The prescriber
Knowledge about the medicine: Sometimes the prescriber does not have objective information on the medicine. For instance the prescriber might choose to get his information from the manufacturer who might have given biased information rather than from unbiased sources giving them misleading beliefs about medicine efficacy and adverse effects.

Knowledge about the patient: Poor knowledge of the patient by the prescriber could adversely contribute to adherence.

Communication skill: the patient could be misled by the prescriber if communication is defective

The medicine
Dosage form: is it capsule, tablet, syrup, inhaler, suppository, etc
Appearance: does it have appeal to the user? The sight of a medicine may be off-putting to the user
Taste: taste preference is generally influenced by age, children and young people generally like sweet taste while adults prefer a bit sour or slightly bitter taste
Frequency of use: The more the frequency of use, the less the likelihood for adherence. I recall a teenager wondered why there was no supplement he could swallow once a month instead of daily.

Accessibility: this considers affordability and availability.

Role of the pharmacist in simplifying your medicines use
The pharmacist is an expert in all matters pertaining to medicines-the pharmaceutics (manufacture), the pharmacology (how your medicine works and the organs it affects) and the pharmacokinetics (speed at which medicine gets in and out of the body and how long it stays in the body, how much of it remains). He is therefore best positioned in healthcare delivery to simplify your medicines use. The pharmacist can simplify your medicines use. Your pharmacist can:
Ensure that the right or appropriate choice of medicine for your condition was made by the prescriber. The pharmacist looks out for efficacy, safety, suitability and affordability. He weighs the risk: benefit ratio of the prescribed medicine.
Sort out your medicines in order of importance and advise you accordingly. For instance if you have to take many medicines at the same time, the pharmacist can help you reduce pill burden by fishing out medicines that are of no significant added value and keeping them on hold till you are done with the main medicines or out rightly withdrawing the unnecessary medicine
Help you make medicine choices that reduce the number or and frequency of dosage. For instance, replacing a twice daily regimen with once daily where feasible e.g. instead of taking 1 tablet zaditen twice daily you could take 1 tablet zaditen SRO once daily.
Help you sort out which ones should be taken in the morning, at night, before or after food or with food. He can also help you know which medicines must be swallowed or can be chewed, mask unpleasant taste where possible.
Help you arrange your medicine use in a way to avoid interaction e.g. where there is the need to take tetracycline and antacid, your pharmacist will arrange it such that you allow at least 2 hours gap between each dose of tetracycline and the antacid because otherwise, the antacid will form a complex with your tetracycline and send it out as waste product.
Help you know which medicines can be split in two and help you split them in two (as equal halves as possible) using a pill cutter. Some medicines must not be split in two e.g. Plendil tablets
Help you pin your medicine use to particular times of the day e.g. a medicine like Ampiclox that must be taken every 6 hours. The pharmacist will help you divide your day to 4 equal parts and help you work out the most convenient time to take it. For instance if you normally go to bed 11p.m. the pharmacist will advise you take 1 at 11pm, next at 5am, 11am and 5pm.
Introduce you to pill box. Pill box is partitioned to hold morning, noon, evening, night doses.
Help you set reminders around your medications using alarm or family and friends.
Help you know what to do if you miss a dose of your medication.
Help you know all that you need to know about your medication thereby simplifying its use if he knows the name of your medicine so please don’t accept any medicine from anyone without knowing the name.
Your pharmacist is trained to make your medicine use easier no matter how complex.

Someone should please summarise

Even as a pharmacy student, I didn't even know. smh for me

Op try to learn how to summarize story na,sebi u pass WAEC

Nice. First material worthy of FP all day

Ich liebe dich: Someone should please summarise

Lazy lazy...

mollytinrox:

Lazy lazy...

am rili quite lazy today. Tell me u didnt read the entire post

KingMEXX: Even as a pharmacy student, I didn't even know. smh for me

Looool, there's a thread for pharmacy students in the career section tho, les meet you sir..

moscobabs: Op try to learn how to summarize story na,sebi u pass WAEC

There's no summarizing this bro, its not a story.. pls be patient and read through, your health is most important.

wonderful!
verily, verily health is wealth.

Ich liebe dich: am rili quite lazy today. Tell me u didnt read the entire post

I did, but no summary for you

mollytinrox:

I did, but no summary for you

Pls na, dnt u knw dat wicked pple go to hell

Nice write up!@ op. I read everything. men of honour

Double post.

Good points raised. However, the average Pharmacist working in a Nigerian hospital has limited functions. That is why patients doubt our abilities but have more faith in doctors. I saw this during my industrial training. How can a (central) hospital have all its pharmacists in one big room? How can pharmacist-patient confidentiality be developed when there is no privacy? How can you patiently and effectively counsel a patient when you are standing and there are atleast more than 50 patients waiting for your services? Painfully, the average Nigerian cannot differentiate between the pharmacist and the ('chemist') patent medicine dealer. Most countries have long done away with Bpharm programme but this is 2013 and Nigerians and sadly to say pharmacists (including students) are just becoming aware of the PharmD programme. Bpharm has more to do with manufacturing while PharmD is more patient-oriented. The theme for this year's world pharmacy day is to make medicine use easier no matter how complex. How can it be achieved in Nigeria when the pharmacist is under duress, when Pharmaceutical care is yet to be implemented in most health institutions? This year, in PANS national conference held in Unilag, it became obvious that members of the profession lack unity which is essential if we are to progress. We blame government for all our lapses. But we are to blame. Where were we when other health professionals were taking up positions in government or even sponsoring politicians who can represent them? Thankfully, we've left the 6 by 6 window system lol.

We still have a lot to do before we can happily and/or proudly celebrate World Pharmacy day. Hopefully, we'll get there someday.

ProudlyRx

.

Dispensing of drugs in d service of humanity.

Pharmacist in the Making.

If you don't have a pharmacist as a friend, go get yourself one. Pharmacists are loving, caring and friends in health needs - @PHARMACY365

I pray I promote. As men of honour....

As men of honor! We join hands....Today is world pharmacy today,as it has been said earlier that we are d most accessible health care provider,let tend to improve in our daily life pharmacy activities so has to provide more efficient service to our patients.Thanks

A Pharmacist aedi tho¡ Buh still niru cross #crossing finz. Cudnt meet up wiv d reading.

Yes oo,as men and women of honor lets join hands.lets continue the good work.Long live pharmacy profession!Long live Nigeria,lots of luv to my fellow pxist in the house.cheers.

So happy there is a thread that celebrate us (pharmacist) today , let us all work hard to make this profession better .As men of honour, we join hands.

Excerpts:
Every 25th of September is World Pharmacist day; a day set aside to honour and appreciates the outstanding contributions of pharmacists to the betterment of our planet earth. This brings to fore some pertinent questions;

Who is a Pharmacist?
What are their functions?
How influential and useful are they to our World?

WHO IS A PHARMACIST?

The following acronym simply defines who is a pharmacist
P-Professional
H-Honest
A-Accountable
R-Resourceful
M-Matured
A-Accessible
C-Confident
I-Intelligent
S-Sincere
T-trustworthy

In other words, a Pharmacist is a professional trained to be honest with his patients about their health. He is trained to be accountable to his community and the world in general by putting their health and welfare above all things. He is resourceful, smart and fast in proffering solutions to his patient’s health challenges. He is trained to handle situation with maturity. Highly and easily accessible to his people and this is why you can find him in every community. His utter confidence inspires his patients to believe every of his word and concur sorely to his instruction to achieve superb result. Three of his cardinal attributes are sincerity, trust and intelligence. And with these exceptional qualities he is and remains a blessing to his community, nation, region, continent and the world.

FUNCTIONS OF A PHARMACIST

These are some of his functions
A. Pharmacists provide expertise about the composition of drugs including their chemical, biological and physical properties, and their manufacture and use.
B. Pharmacists educate consumers and patients on the use of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications and advice physicians, nurses and other medical professionals on drug decision.
C. Pharmacists help patients to get well……….

HOW INFLUENTIAL AND USEFUL ARE THEY TO OUR WORLD

Pharmacists are the impetus behind the discovering of new and all medicines that saves lives, reduces morbidity, mortality and helps us to have a healthier and better world.
Pharmacists are the key that unlocks all you and I need to know about our medicines, health and good living. They are the world most accessible healthcare provider because they are very close to you; they are in your street, in your estate or perhaps a stone throw from your house. They are always with you in sickness and in health.
Pharmacists are not just drug experts; they are leaders, drug designers, clinicians, communicators, councilors, managers, role models, entrepreneurs, technocrats per excellence, motivators, change agents and blessings to our world.

I’m proud to be a pharmacist, if you are proud to be one, let’s share this article to the world through Facebook, twitter, Google plus, and every social media we can.

As men of honour we join hands.

God bless the pharmacy profession and pharmacists.

Written by

PHARM. SESAN KAREEM is a pharmacist by training, a writer by passion, a speaker by calling and a go-getter by decision. He is a certified Leadership, Management and SME personnel by Global Leadership Training Institute and the author of Maximize Your Life (ISBN 978-978-308-755-2), Grab Your Destiny (ISBN 978-178-361-3) and Life is short, but it’s really worth it (ISBN 978-3-7103-0665-5). He is the Founder and the CEO of Meerak Ideas Concept and Semper Paratus Organisation. Pharm. Sesan earned his B. Pharm from Olabisi Onabanjo University. He is a member of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria.

Am proud to be a pharmacist. The best profession ever. As men of honour, we join hands.

she-blayze:
Good points raised. However, the average Pharmacist working in a Nigerian hospital has limited functions. That is why patients doubt our abilities but have more faith in doctors. I saw this during my industrial training. How can a (central) hospital have all its pharmacists in one big room? How can pharmacist-patient confidentiality be developed when there is no privacy? How can you patiently and effectively counsel a patient when you are standing and there are atleast more than 50 patients waiting for your services? Painfully, the average Nigerian cannot differentiate between the pharmacist and the ('chemist') patent medicine dealer. Most countries have long done away with Bpharm programme but this is 2013 and Nigerians and sadly to say pharmacists (including students) are just becoming aware of the PharmD programme. Bpharm has more to do with manufacturing while PharmD is more patient-oriented. The theme for this year's world pharmacy day is to make medicine use easier no matter how complex. How can it be achieved in Nigeria when the pharmacist is under duress, when Pharmaceutical care is yet to be implemented in most health institutions? This year, in PANS national conference held in Unilag, it became obvious that members of the profession lack unity which is essential if we are to progress. We blame government for all our lapses. But we are to blame. Where were we when other health professionals were taking up positions in government or even sponsoring politicians who can represent them? Thankfully, we've left the 6 by 6 window system lol.

We still have a lot to do before we can happily and/or proudly celebrate World Pharmacy day. Hopefully, we'll get there someday.

ProudlyRx

God help us with the situation in this country, but still we have come to thrive and we will thrive. B.pharm became a thing of the past in the western world since the 1990s, when the advent of pharmaceutical care became fully blown. But our dear naija has decided to hold on to it. About unity, we really lack, it saddens my heart, we do seriously lack it. I created a thread in the career section, where we(students and graduates) could meet and help ourselves, notwithstanding it's #WorldPharmacyDay people, big ups to you!!!

pxjosh: Nice write up!@ op. I read everything. men of honour

We join hands..

KingMEXX: Even as a pharmacy student, I didn't even know. smh for me

Mexx my man...how you guys doing? Help me grit Anazodo Francis and Somto...data gr8 Lions.