The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) strongly encourages Member Organizations and pharmacists from across the globe to participate in World Pharmacists Day on 25 September.  This year’s theme for World Pharmacists Day is:

Pharmacists – simplifying your medicines use, no matter how complex.

This theme parallels the theme of the 73rd FIP World Congress: Towards a Future Vision for Complex Patients: Integrated Care in a Dynamic Continuum.  Change is sweeping pharmacy and healthcare on a global scale.  A new era of healthcare development brings with it much hope.  As more solutions become available to patients – whether they are medicines, therapies or services provided by healthcare providers – pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists can help with their ever more complex care.

The understanding and treatment of human diseases is complicated and challenging because patients themselves are complex.  This complexity derives from many factors – including but not limited to those of biological, medical, behavioral and social natures.  The more straightforward and simple a medication regimen is to follow, the more likely a patient will remain compliant and adherent to their therapy.  Pharmacists are in a prime position to help patients take their medications in a timely and appropriate manner to ensure that they receive the full benefit of therapy.  Cancer or transplant patients, for instance, have time-sensitive medication regimens.  A pharmacist can help prevent delays or non-adherence to their therapy that would otherwise significantly impact their treatment course and overall health.

As pharmacists, what are we doing to address and meet the needs of complex patients?  Devising strategies to treat complex patients and tailoring pharmacy education to optimize patient care must be part of future initiatives in pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences all across the globe.  We implore all of you to share your thoughts, visions and solutions to simplifying medicines use for your patients, no matter how complex.