World Pharmacists Day 2023

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.

2023 year’s theme is “Pharmacists strengthening health systems“.

Why this theme?

This year’s theme aims to present opportunities to increase awareness of pharmacists as an intelligent solution for health services to meet future needs of health systems around the world after COVID-19 crisis. The campaign creates awareness of its value and continued potential to improve health. FIP’s mission for 2023: Let pharmacies do more.

The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) invites colleagues from all sectors of the pharmacy profession to take part in the campaign and show the world how we are united for health, regardless of and overcoming conflict, different politics and cultures, and economic disparity.

“The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 3 sets out a number of health targets, including for non-communicable diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and mental health) and communicable diseases (for example, HIV, tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases). We have seen improvements in many of these areas and our profession should be proud of and make known its contributions. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has hindered progress and it is imperative that we rally to build back better,” said FIP president Mr Dominique Jordan.

FIP’s message for World Pharmacists Day 2023 is clear: Let pharmacies do more.

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.

Since 2020, the FIP has also launched World Pharmacy Week to extend the celebrations to include all aspects of the pharmacy profession.

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.

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.

NEWSLETTER REGISTRATION

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 the ingredients & excipients in the COVID-19 vaccines? See them all here!