World Pharmacists Day 2019

Congratulations and sincere thanks to the Pharmacists

all over the world for your daily great work!

On the 25th of September is the annual World Pharmacists Day.
This year’s theme is “Safe and effective medicines for all“, it shows the important role of all pharmacists in remaining the patients’ safety due to improving medicines and reducing the risks. 

Molecules become medicines when pharmaceutical expertise is added – FIP

Why is there a celebration called World Pharmacist Day?

The purpose of World Pharmacists Day, which was brought to life at the FIP Council 2009 in Istanbul, is to encourage activities that promote and advocate for the role of the pharmacist in improving health in every corner of the world. Pharmacists are the reason why people get the best from their medicines, they are using their experience, knowledge, and expertise to make the (medical) world a better place for everybody. Moreover, they give access to medicines, advise people on how to properly take them and so much more.

See our Article on World Pharmacists Day 2020 with an updated Infographic

Why is it celebrated on September 25?

The Turkish members of FIP suggested the Date because the FIP was established on the same day in 1912.

We prepared an infographic on some more interesting figures around the World Pharmacists Day:
(click to enlarge the infographic)

What is the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)?

The founder of World Pharmacists Day, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is the global body representing pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and pharmaceutical education. Through their 144 national organisations, academic institutional members and individual members, they represent millions of pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists and pharmaceutical educators around the world. FIP is a non-governmental organisation with its head office in the Netherlands. Through their partnerships and extensive pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences network, they work to support the development of the pharmacy profession, through practice and emerging scientific innovations, and through developing the pharmacy workforce in order to meet the world’s health care needs and expectations.

But where is the word “pharmacy” actually coming from?

Some of the oldest pharmaceutical records were found in Egypt from the year 2900 B.C. The “Papyrus Ebers”, a collection of 800 prescriptions mentioning 700 drugs, dates back to around 1500 B.C.
The “Father of Pharmacy” is Aelius Galenius aka Galen of Pergamon a Greek physician, surgeon and philosopher in the Roman empire. His name is still associated with galenicals.

Did you know…?

…that 78% of Pharmacy Technicians are Females and there are more than 4 million pharmacists worldwide? All of them boosted the revenue of the pharmaceutical market in 2018 to 1204.8 billion USD!

…that they are the most accessible healthcare professional? (For example: in the USA >90% of people live within 5 miles of a pharmacist).

…that the inventors of Coca-Cola (John Pemberton), Dr. Pepper (Charles Alderton), Pepsi and Ginger Ale were pharmacists too?

Our mission at Pharma Excipients is to give more information about pharmaceutical excipients to the pharmaceutical world. See some examples for our general background articles on pharmaceutical excipients giving answers in text, graphics and videos to questions like:

What are Pharmaceutical Excipients?

What are Flavors and what is their Background?

What are Sweeteners and what is their Role in Pharmaceutical Production?