The pharmacist’s role has often been regarded merely as a seller of prescribed medicines, an in-between agent between the doctor and his patients. This role however, has been undergoing radical changes in the past years. Research confirmed that the community pharmacy is undergoing a professional transition where the pharmacist’s role is evolving from traditional dispensing towards greater involvement in delivering front line care.
With this in mind, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare and Vivian Corporation have this year awarded Economical Dispensary of Sliema with the Healthy Partnership Award. The award was presented by Yan Grima, Medical Representative for Pfizer Consumer Healthcare at Vivian Corporation to pharmacist Edward Paris at his Sliema pharmacy in Sliema’s Dingli Street.
The Healthy Partnership, awarded on behalf of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare by Vivian Corporation seeks to present a pharmacy each year with a certification to support this transition. The award is based on criteria such as professional support offered by the pharmacist to the patients, pharmacy set up and recognising the importance of the commercial and financial aspect of the pharmacy business.
“We believe that the pharmacist’s role is at the forefront of the overall service and patient experience being offered within the pharmacy,” explains Yan Grima, medical representative of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare at Vivian Corporation. “Therefore it is vital not only to the overall patient experience within pharmacy, but also to the future of pharmacists as frontline healthcare providers.”
“This is the rationale behind our recently launched launched Healthy Partnership Award, a drive to support and also to award those local pharmacies in their important role of delivering healthcare and new services to patients,” added Mr Grima.
Through ‘The Pfizer Healthy Partnerships’ initiative we hope to work with pharmacists to deliver the support needed in key aspects of their pharmacy business. The Pharmacy Business awards are an important way of recognising the excellent contribution pharmacy makes to patient care and as such Pfizer is pleased to support this event.
Pfizer has several diverse health care businesses, one of which is Consumer Healthcare. It is in fact one of the world’s largest consumer healthcare companies, with brands of over-the-counter products that are well-recognised household names. It produces a comprehensive range of quality products developed to help consumers cope effectively with everyday healthcare problems – from relieving headaches to fighting coughs.