World Pharmacists Day on September 25 is a celebration of every pharmacist, pharmaceutical scientist, and others who are part of this field. Four million people are engaged in this profession around the globe. World Pharmacists Day is thus not only a welcome event, but it is also a crucial holiday to honor the role these guys play in improving global health outcomes. The day is marked by events and activities sponsored by various governmental and non-governmental organizations. Globally, they all have one common goal — to increase awareness about pharmacists and their roles.
History
The ancient art of pharmacy probably began when someone somewhere first thought of applying the juice from leaves to heal a wound. There have also been Greek legends written centuries ago that spoke of gods being apothecaries or pharmacists. The Greek god of healing, Asclepius, delegated the compounding of his remedies to Hygieia, his apothecary or pharmacist.
For the longest time, healing and pharmacy went hand-in-hand and were often thought of as the same practice. The line between pharmacy and medicine began to be defined by the eighth century and was firmly established by the time the 17th century rolled along. Now, physicians could no longer prepare medications for their patients themselves. The field transformed yet again with the onslaught of World War II. New drugs were constantly introduced into the market, and the role of the pharmacist became more defined than ever.
Today’s pharmacist performs multiple vital duties. Their tasks include identifying and providing people with the right medication, overseeing stocking and restocking of medicines, and staying ahead of medicine expiry dates. This is probably why the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) established this day to honor all pharmacists. The premier global body to represent all pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, the FIP aims to support the pharmacist network and the development of this profession. The reason behind the date for the annual celebrations can also be traced back to the FIP. According to the founders of this day, they wanted to honor the organization that was doing so much for pharmacists. This is why they picked the date the FIP was established — September 25, 1912.
Credit: National Today
