World Pharmacist Day (25/09)

World Pharmacists Day is celebrated annually on September 25th. This is a professional holiday for specialists in the field of pharmaceuticals, pharmacists, everyone whose activities are related to the sale of medicines, their manufacture, research, quality control, and ensuring proper storage conditions.

The date of the celebration is timed to coincide with the founding day of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) – of a world organization representing and protecting the interests of the pharmaceutical industry, sciences and industry. On this day in 1912, during the World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, held in Turkey, this organization was formed, and in honor of this date, already in 2009, the FIP Council called annually in all countries whose organizations are represented in the FIP, celebrate World Pharmacist Day.

Since then, it has been held annually with the aim of attracting public attention to the importance of the work of these specialists, protecting their rights and interests, improving their image and popularizing these professions.

The International Pharmaceutical Federation itself unites more than 4 million pharmaceutical professionals. It includes 152 specialized organizations, and in addition, about 4 thousand individual members take part in its work. This makes FIP the largest and most representative international organization in the field of pharmaceuticals.

By the way, the pharmaceutical industry – is not only the sale of medicines through pharmacy chains, but also a system of centers for the development and production of medicines, preclinical and clinical research, quality control, drug storage enterprises, etc. The role of the pharmacist in the pharmacy is as significant as the role of the doctor. After all, by providing the treatment process with pharmaceutical products, he is responsible for the timeliness and quality of pharmaceutical care. He must know the composition of drugs, indications for their use, monitor the quality of incoming products, proper storage of drugs and be able to work with people.

The very concept of «pharmacy» (from the Greek «apotheke» – warehouse, storage) currently in all languages means a healthcare institution that prepares, stores and distributes medicines, dressings, sanitation and nursing. The first mention of a pharmacy as a place for storing medicines occurs in Hippocrates 400 BC. The first pharmacies in Europe appeared in the 12th century at monasteries. The monks prepared medicines and dispensed them free of charge to those in need. A century later, the first city pharmacies began to open in Venice.

The first pharmacy in Rus', organized in accordance with Western regulations, was opened under Ivan the Terrible in 1581. There they were engaged not only in the sale, but also in the manufacture of medicines, but mainly – foreign specialists. At first, the Upper Pharmacy (as it was called then) produced medicines exclusively for the Tsar and members of his family; only in 1672 did the so-called Lower Pharmacy appear in Moscow, engaged in the production, storage and sale of medicines according to doctors’ prescriptions to people of different ranks. In the 17th century, pharmacies appeared in other Russian cities. The pharmacy reform carried out under Peter I established the norms of pharmacy activity and mandatory professional control over the distribution of medicines. But the legislative basis for creating a network of public and private pharmacies was laid in 1789, when the first Russian Pharmacy Charter was issued. After the October Revolution of 1917, pharmacies in the country were nationalized, and a strict system of managing the work of pharmacies and the movement of goods was created. After the collapse of the USSR, private pharmacy chains began to actively develop, and new groups of goods appeared. Under these conditions, the role of the pharmacist has significantly increased, as a specialist who knows the nomenclature of new drugs and has data on their comparative effectiveness.

In honor of the holiday, in different countries, chain pharmaceutical companies hold all kinds of – flash mob events, seminars, exhibitions, open days, free examinations for pharmacy visitors, etc. By the way, every year Pharmacist Day is held under its own motto, reflecting current trends in the profession. For example: «Pharmacist – your healthcare partner», «Transforming global health», «Pharmacists – your drug experts», «Safe and effective medicines for all», «Pharmacy is always dedicated to your health», «Pharmacies unite in the fight for a healthier world» and others.

It also must be said that a number of states have established their own separate date for the professional holiday of a pharmaceutical worker. For example, in the USA it is celebrated on January 12, in Argentina – on October 12, in Belarus – on October 15, and in Russia Pharmaceutical Worker Day is celebrated on May 19.

But no matter what date is chosen for the holiday, the role of a pharmacist in a pharmacy is difficult to overestimate. After all, this specialist provides the treatment process prescribed by the doctor with pharmaceutical products, and is responsible for the timeliness and quality of pharmaceutical care. His professionalism, knowledge and daily conscientious work – are the key to the health of many people.

Therefore, the main goal of today's – holiday is to ensure that a pharmacy employee is perceived not just as a seller of medicines, but as a specialist providing medical care. All this should ultimately contribute to increasing the image of pharmacists in people's minds and improving attitudes towards representatives of this profession.



Postcard «September 25 — World Pharmacist Day» Story «Hypnotic for headache»

1991