A Special Address: World Pharmacists Day 2020 – Transforming Global Health

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By Sean Liew Jia Xen

Deputy Chairperson in Malaysian Pharmacists Society- Young Pharmacists Chapter (MPS-YPC). A public health advocate with a passion for the welfare of young pharmacists. Oh and, a digital health enthusiast too!

The theme for this year’s World Pharmacists Day is Transforming Global Health. It highlights the transformative role pharmacists play in the life and wellbeing of our communities, especially in these times of a pandemic.

In support of this vision of transformation, the FIP recently launched 21 development goals to transform the pharmacy profession over the next decade. The aspiration is to ultimately transform science, practice and the workforce around each of these goals to bring advancement to global pharmacy.

As strategic as it is, what I find most encouraging about FIP’s masterplan is their steadfast commitment toward workforce development. It recognized the need for pharmacists, particularly those in their early career to be holistically developed to meet the evolving needs of the population. In this respect, the development goals focusing on early career training, leadership, competency and specialist development, amongst others, provide for an excellent framework that could point us the way in progressing young pharmacists from the novice workforce toward advanced practice.

At MPS Young Pharmacist Chapter, we share FIP’s aspirations for young pharmacists. For more than a decade, the organization has consistently strived to meet the development needs of thousands of Malaysian young pharmacists through focused programs, workshops and initiatives. With several YPC flagship programs entering their 5th installations this year and with new ones emerging, development shall continue to remain a key theme to our core ambitions.

But today is all about celebrating our profession. Echoing the words of the FIP President, Mr Dorminique Jordan and MPS President, Tuan Hj Amrahi Buang, the World Pharmacists Day celebration this year represents an opportunity for us to show how pharmacists contribute to a world where everyone benefits from access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and health technologies, as well as from pharmaceutical care services. In the face of a global pandemic, this should also be the time we afford recognition to the challenges faced by pharmacists in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and in ensuring access to medicines.

Young pharmacists, today calls for us to come together to communicate the value of our profession and the roles we play in improving health everywhere around the world. Stand with us at MPS YPC and let’s spread the word.

 

Happy World Pharmacists Day!

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