Dear President/Secretary, IPA STATE/Local branch Below is the template for issuing the Press Release for the

NPW. The same may be issued a few days before Nov 20th, by calling a Press Conference or by submitting it to all the Media (Print and Electronic) in your State/District/Locality. Along with this, please also submit any pamphlets/posters/Logo/booklets/etc. about the theme/the Pharmacist/the Pharmacy profession which you may have got printed.

PRESS RELEASE

INDIAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION _____Branch

www.ipapharma.org

NATIONAL PHARMACY WEEK 2011.

Theme :

Pharmacist : A Health Care Professional

The Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) is the premier professional association of pharmacists in India, with a member base of over 10,000, spread across the length & breadth of the nation. IPA operates in India through 17 state branches & more than 33 local branches. The members represent various facets of pharmaceutical profession viz. Industry,
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regulatory, community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy & education. IPA is also actively associated in managing several academic programmes. As member of Drug Technical Advisory Board, India, IPA is actively involved in advising the government on matters of professional importance. IPA is affiliated with international pharma associations like FIP, FAPA, CPA, AAPS, AAiPS, IPSF & WHO, for carrying out various collaborative professional activities which include organizing training programmes for professionals from industry, academics, regulatory & practice, making representations to the authorities on matters of professional interest & working towards constantly upgrading the standards of professional services offered by the pharmacists.
Every year the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) celebrates the National Pharmacy Week (NPW) all over India in the third week of November. The 50th (Golden Jubilee) NPW this year will be from 20th to 27th of November, 2011. Through the NPW, pharmacists in the country conduct various activities to create awareness amongst the public and the authorities about the pharmacy profession and the role of the pharmacist and his/her importance as a member of the health care team. The theme selected for this years NPW is : Pharmacist : A Health Care Professional.

Pharmacy is a versatile, dynamic, growing, and increasingly diverse profession. It is an age old profession which has transformed into a hub for Global Healthcare and has evolved as a multidisciplinary and multifaceted field in recent times. Unfortunately, in the eyes of the public, the role of the pharmacist and pharmacy profession and its contribution to health care are often not duly recognized and even misunderstood. This is possibly because both public and policymakers believe that pharmacists role is restricted to merely buying and selling of medicines. However, there is a lot more pharmacists do to contribute to the health of the nation. Pharmacists represent the 3rd largest force of healthcare professional group in the world. In India, there are around 10 lakh pharmacists working in various positions, 2

in various sectors, applying their unique knowledge and skills, contributing to the health of the nation, playing a variety of roles for the benefit of society. Pharmacists work in a wide variety of settings : In the pharmaceutical industry they carry out a variety of roles : manufacturing, quality assurance, quality control, packaging, R & D; In the practice area, they work in community (retail) pharmacies, hospitals pharmacies, and as clinical pharmacists in hospitals

In academia they carry out the role of a teacher and a researcher In the regulatory sector, they are involved in drug testing, inspections of manufacturing, and distribution networks In clinical research Etc.

Pharmacists are health care professionals whose professional responsibilities include seeking to ensure that people derive maximum therapeutic benefits from their treatments with medicines. While by nature of work/practice, many pharmacists work behind the scenes, a large number of them who are in direct contact with patients represent the face of the pharmacy profession. Thus, pharmacy is a product, as well as a service-related discipline. There is a lot of ignorance amongst the public about the proper or safe use of medicines. Therefore, Pharmacists across the country take this opportunity to convey to the people about safe use of medicines, and also make them aware that pharmacists are available for any of their queries or to guide them on proper usage of medicines. The Objectives of this years NPW are : To generate widespread awareness/educate the public about the Pharmacist and the Pharmacy profession and its vital role in society.

To create awareness amongst various authorities and do advocacy on various front so as to highlight the important role of the Pharmacist in health care and well being of the people, and ensure that the 3

Pharmacist is given his due in Indias health care system both private and public.

To interact with other health care professionals and highlight to them the importance and role of the pharmacist in the health care system, and move towards better coordination and working together. To enhance the image of pharmacists as the medication experts and an integral part of the health care team, and not just dispensers of medication. Various activities have been lined up by the State and Local Branches of the Indian Pharmaceutical Associations across the country to carry out various activities to highlight to the people about the Pharmacist as a Health Care professional and an important member of the health care team. Pharmacists of the nation therefore encourage the public/patients to make the best use of their friendly neighbourhood Pharmacist for Safe Use Of Medicines !

__sd/-_____________________ _______________ PRESIDENT/HON. SECRETARY INDIAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION ________ Branch