The International Pharmaceutical Federation celebrates World Pharmacists Day on 25 September. This year’s theme is ‘Think Health, Think Pharmacist’. World Pharmacists Day is a day to recognise and celebrate the crucial role that pharmacists play in building healthier communities everywhere.
Pharmacists are integral to our healthcare system, often being the first point of contact for health advice and primary health care, as well as addressing the health needs of our community in many varied ways. Pharmacists ensure access to essential medicines and their optimal use and they also use their expertise to contribute significantly to patient care and public health.
Pharmacists provide support that enhances patient outcomes and promotes optimal use of medications to enable better health management for people with asthma. They play a significant role in helping with medication adherence and inhaler technique and through their dedication to education and ongoing support, including through health promotion activities and home medicine reviews.
The National Asthma Council Australia (NAC) values the expertise, support and guidance offered by pharmacists around Australia in the care and management of asthma. The NAC’s network of expert pharmacists informs essential asthma guidelines and resources such as the Australian Asthma Handbook. This includes the NAC’s Clinical Executive Lead, Associate Professor Debbie Rigby and several pharmacists on our NAC Guidelines Committee, NAC Board and Pharmacists Asthma Advisory Group.
The NAC’s Pharmacists Asthma Advisory Group provides expertise and advice from the pharmacy perspective, maintaining the relevance, accuracy and impact of the NAC’s work and facilitating engagement between the NAC and key stakeholders in community pharmacy. The advisory group provides strategic policy and advocacy advice on asthma matters, identifies and shares current and potential future trends in community pharmacy, identifies gaps and opportunities in asthma, and provides advice for addressing these in community pharmacy.
Find out more:
nationalasthma.org.au/about-us/our-people
asthmahandbook.org.au/about-the-handbook/guidelines-committee
