The Pharmacy Board of Australia is recognising the role of pharmacists in ensuring the safe use of medicines during this year’s World Pharmacists Day.
Marked worldwide on September 25, this year’s theme is ‘Safe and effective medicines for all’ in recognition of the vital role of pharmacists in safeguarding patient safety through improving medicine use and reducing medication errors.
This year marks the tenth year since the annual World Pharmacists Day was first designated by the FIP Council in Istanbul.
As the body responsible for regulating Australia’s 31,955 pharmacists (as at June 30 2019), the board is highlighting the expertise of pharmacists and the important role they have in supporting good health within the community.
“Pharmacists have a central role in ensuring medication safety across the continuum of care, and this year’s theme is a chance to highlight that. Pharmacist involvement in patient care can reduce errors, improve prescribing practices, and enhance patient monitoring across settings,” board Chair Brett Simmonds said.
As part of its core role to protect the public, the board regulates pharmacists through exercising its functions under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory (the National Law).
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 and maintains the Register of pharmacists which can be accessed from the Board’s website.
Meeting the board’s requirements for registration and practice, including completion of the annual continuing professional development requirements, maintaining professional indemnity insurance arrangements and complying with all board registration standards, codes and guidelines, supports safe delivery of important services by pharmacists to the public.
As one of the fundamentals of pharmacy practice, pharmacists across a range of practice settings are promoting judicious, safe and effective use of medicines.
