Pharmacists, also known as chemists or druggists, are health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of chemical sciences and health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use. Pharmacists undergo university or graduate-level education to understand the biochemical mechanisms and actions of drugs, drug uses, therapeutic roles, side effects, potential drug interactions, and monitoring parameters. This is mated to anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology. Pharmacists interpret and communicate this specialized knowledge to patients, physicians, and other health care providers.
Pharmacy is the science and technique of preparing, dispensing, and reviewing drugs and providing additional clinical services. It is a health profession that links health sciences with pharmaceutical sciences and aims to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of drugs. The professional practice is becoming more clinically oriented as most of the drugs are now manufactured by pharmaceutical industries. Based on the setting, the pharmacy is classified as a community or institutional pharmacy. Providing direct patient care in the community of institutional pharmacies are considered clinical pharmacy.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is the body responsible for the leadership and support of the pharmacy profession within England, Scotland and Wales. It was created along with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in September 2010 when the previous Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain was split so that representative and regulatory functions of the pharmacy profession could be separated. Although membership of the Society is not a prerequisite for engaging in practice as a pharmacist within the United Kingdom, most practising pharmacists opt to join the Society because of the benefits offered by membership. Its predecessor the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain was founded on 15 April 1841.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is a professional organisation of Australian pharmacists. PSA is the peak national body for pharmacists, representing all of the pharmacy profession in Australia, with approximately 18,000 members. PSA is the major provider of continuing professional development programmes for pharmacists in Australia. PSA also organises various pharmacy events including a national conference attended by over 1,200 delegates from around Australia and internationally. PSA publishes the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary, the Australian Pharmacist journal, and various other pharmacy publications.
The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852, is the first-established professional society of pharmacists in the United States. The association consists of more than 62,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in the profession. Nearly all U.S. pharmacy specialty organizations were originally a section or part of this association.
Ernest Mario is an American pharmaceutical industry executive and the recipient of the 2007 Remington Honor Medal awarded by the American Pharmacists Association.
Gloria Niemeyer Francke was an American pharmacist. She became assistant director of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Division of Hospital Pharmacy (1946–1956); executive secretary of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (1949–1960); and research associate for the Audit of Pharmaceutical Service in Hospitals (1956–1964).
Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) is a health and beauty company in Australia that is involved in pharmaceutical distribution, retailing and manufacturing. API is Australia's largest wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical and allied products. The company is involved in retailing through company-owned stores and franchise operations. API is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and operates in the retail health and beauty industry under the following brands: Priceline, Priceline Pharmacy, Soul Pattinson and Pharmacist Advice.
The basic requirement for pharmacists to be considered for registration is an undergraduate or postgraduate pharmacy degree from a recognized university. In many countries, this involves a four- or five-year course to attain a master of pharmacy degree (MPharm). In the United States of America, students graduating after January 1, 2003, must complete a doctor of pharmacy degree to become a licensed pharmacist. This same requirement has been coming into place in other countries such as Canada and France.
Fred J. Boyd was an Australian pharmacist, qualified accountant and Radiographer, and the founding president of The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia.
Edward (Nikk) Joseph Phelan is a notable figure in the profession of pharmacy in Australia, highlighted by his winning The Evans Medal For Merit in 1969 for outstanding contribution to the practice of hospital pharmacy.
S.W. ('Bill') Hayes is an Australian pharmacist who won the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia Glaxo Medal of Merit in 1965. Hayes is also a Fellow of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia and a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. At the time of the award, Hayes was the Chief Pharmacist at Geelong Hospital in Victoria and Vice President of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia. He was also involved with the Society of Hospital Pharmacists at a state level for many years, including terms as Chairman of the Victorian branch.
Mavis Grace Sweeney was an Australian hospital pharmacist who was awarded The Evans Medal for Merit in 1968. The Evans Medal of Merit recognised outstanding contributions to the profession of pharmacy.
Charles B Macgibbon played an important role in developing the hospital pharmacy profession in Australia. He was the Chief Pharmacist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital from 1938. At this time there were only 36 hospital pharmacists in the Victorian hospital system and there was virtually no collaboration between them. Charles realised that by joining together, hospital pharmacists in Victoria could strengthen the profession and contribute to better quality pharmacy services. Charles and Fred J. Boyd actively worked to create a society for hospital pharmacists. In 1941 he became the founding president of the Society of Hospital Pharmaceutical Chemists which was the forerunner to The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia. During Charles' time as president of the Society, he advocated strongly to ensure hospital appointed pharmacists and that patients had access to safe medicines.
Neil Wighton Naismith, PhC MPS FSHP AM, was an Australian pharmacist whose career in hospital pharmacy commenced in 1960. He served as Director of Pharmacy at The Royal Melbourne Hospital from 1967–1997.
Bill Thomson is a pharmacist who was awarded The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia Fred J Boyd award in recognition of his contribution to hospital pharmacy practice.
The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) is a professional association. Membership mostly comprises hospital pharmacists, but is open to pharmacy technicians and pharmacy students. The organisation aims to support and provide professional development to its members and be an advocate for improved medicines management in policy and practice. The society also produces various publications, including the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research (JPPR).
Pharmacy in the United Kingdom has been an integral part of the National Health Service since it was established in 1948. Unlike the rest of the NHS pharmacies are largely privately provided apart from those in hospitals, and even these are now often privately run.
Chemist Warehouse is an Australian company operating a chain of retail pharmacies. The company is Australia's largest pharmacy retailer and employs over 8,000 staff. The company brands itself as offering discounted prices for pharmaceutical goods.
Margaret Elizabeth Buchanan was a British pharmacist and pioneer of women in pharmacy.
