World Pharmacists Day is a holiday that is observed annually on September 25th. It’s a day that celebrates pharmacists — healthcare professionals who dispense medications and provide advice on how medications should be used effectively.

Although most people are probably familiar with the pharmacist who works at their local drugstore, they may not give much thought to them beyond the filling of their prescriptions. However, the role of pharmacists is more than just dispensing medications.

They ensure that there aren’t unforeseen drug interactions and help to advise physicians on what drugs would be most effective. It’s for all the things that they do that we all should take the time to recognize their contributions to our health.

The History of World Pharmacist Day

This holiday was first created in 2009 by the International Pharmaceutical Federation — also known as the Fédération Internationale Pharmaceutique or FIP.

The FIP was originally founded on September 25, 1912, which is why World Pharmacist Day is observed on this date. The FIP is currently a non-governmental organization that is officially partnered with the World Health Organization.

Some Interesting Facts About Pharmacists

Since we’re on the subject of pharmacists, we thought that we’d take the time to learn a little bit more about them. After all, while we were researching this holiday, we had the startling realization that we didn’t know as much about pharmacists as we thought we did.

So we rolled up our sleeves, got to work, and dug up all the information we could on the subject. The result of all our hard work is the following list of facts about pharmacists. We hope that they prove to be educational to everyone reading today.

• As of 2000, all pharmacists hold Pharm.D. (Doctor of Pharmacy) degrees.
• They are required to pass both state and national licensure exams in the U.S. to practice.
• In all 50 U.S. states, pharmacists can administer vaccines.
• It’s been estimated that approximately 90% of the people in the U.S. live near a pharmacist.
• Some pharmacists obtain advanced degrees known as APH (Advanced Practice Pharmacist).
• Pharmacists are always involved in continuing education programs to keep their skills up to date.

Observing World Pharmacists Day

This holiday is observed both on a local and an international level. It’s observed with seminars and conferences for educational institutions and professional organizations to discuss topics related to pharmacy practice.

There are also public health campaigns on this day, as well as community outreach programs. People around the world can take the time to spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #WorldPharmacistsDay.