Dr. R. S. Thakur
Email: drramsthakur@gmail.com
The theme of World Pharmacists Day 2026 announced by International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is "Empowering Pharmacists for Healthier Futures". This encompasses three important and crucial aspects or features of empowering Pharmacists in terms of (i)knowledge, skills and expertises; (ii) empowering Pharmacists through opportunities to serve the ailing masses as distinguished expert on rational and safe use of medicines; and (iii) empowering Pharmacists to completely irradicate production, marketing and use of substandard, spurious, adulterated and misbranded medicines across the globe and ensure wide access to affordable quality medicines in every nook and corner. This the practice of pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacovigilance and pharmacoecomomics becomes inevitable for Healthier Futures. The theme is a firm futuristic approach and goal to build a healthy global society and improve quality of life of every human being. Frankly speaking Pharmacists have a prestigious role in turning this dream true and professional organisations must work very hard to motivate their member professionals for strong commitment towards this lofty goal. Thus as a professional we must be committed to empower ourselves on all fronts including education, training, professional services and try our best to convince the Government for providing opportunities to perform as Seven-Star Pharmacist.
On the pharmaceutical care front rational and safe use of medicines is greatest challenge. The commercial interests in sale of medicines and aggressive marketing strategies that lures or dictates overprescribing is a common scene, although it does more harm in long term and by then it's too late to combat the ill effects of irrational use of medicines. This is why "Seven-Star Pharmacist" concept was introduced by WHO's document "The Role of the Pharmacist in the Health Care System" as back as in 1997. (1) These roles include Care-giver, Decision-maker, Communicator, Leader, Manager, Life-long-learner, and Teacher. These are also the pillars of professional contribution in the global health care system to ensure safe and rational use of medicines; prevent adverse drug reactions; avoid drug-drug interactions, drug-food and beverages interactions and promote better quality of life. If the rulers and policy makers are really conscious, ambitious and seriously committed to achieve health for all, they should immediately adopt this valuable advice of WHO of 'Seven-Star Pharmacist' that was derived, designed and developed through wide consultations, marathon deliberations among experts. Every element of this document is result oriented towards the global commitment of "Health for All by 2000AD" - the Alma-Ata declaration of 1978. (2)
Ironically Even in 2026 this declaration remains a distant dream only. The declaration uneqivocally emphasized gross inequality in the health status of the people, Social and economic impact of health on the society and the nation, and importance of Primary Health Care besides the aspects of all governments' policies, strategies and plans of action to launch and sustain primary health care as part of a comprehensive national health system and in coordination with other sectors, and fuller and better use of the world's resources in achieving this goal.
Unfortunately the most important player of health care system the pharmacist whose medicines are essential for diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, and prevention of diseases has been badly neglected and grossly unacknowledged in National Health Policy 2017 (NHP) of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. (3) The National Health Policy 2017 totally neglects/ignores Pharmaceutical Care and WHO's "Seven-Star Pharmacist" concept. In this policy the term Pharmacist finds only one mention in sub-heading 11.4 Mid-Level Service Providers.
In sub-heading 14.1 Professional Education Regulation. Pharmacy is mentioned among six professional Councils.
Under heading 21. Anti-microbial resistance. It is pointed out that the problem of anti-microbial resistance calls for a rapid standardization of guidelines, regarding antibiotic use, limiting the use of antibiotics as Over-the-Counter medication, banning or restricting the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in animal livestock. Pharmacovigilance including prescription audit inclusive of antibiotic usage, in the hospital and community, is a must in order to enforce change in existing practices.
However, in spite of the above mentioned mottoes, the policy totally ignored the role of Hospital Pharmacist, Community Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, Hospital Infection Control Committee, Hospital Formulary System, Drug Information Center, and Directorate of Pharmacy Services, without which prescription audit remains absolutely non-functional and a false proposition or illusive proposal. These lapses not only undermines the valuable role of Pharmacist in the health care system but also puts patient safety and welfare at stake and that is the worst thing a society, culture or nation can afford.
Moreover, in sub-heading 25.1 Strengthening Knowledge for Health - there is no mention of Pharmaceutical Research or Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology at all.
These are the overall assessment of NHP 2017 as far as the role of Pharmacist in Health Care System of India is concerned. The overall outcome is that NHP 2017 is not at all aligned to make any progress towards Health for All and we Indians don't have any choice to enjoy the fruits of rational and safe medication. Any prescription without any audit by Pharmacist for safety, efficacy, quality and economy before it is dispensed may be not only unsafe but at times disastrous also and research findings corroborates this statement. In order to substantiate this some useful reports and findings from USA are presented and discussed below.
Each year in the United States, Adverse Drug Events cause more than one and a half million visits to hospital emergency departments. The National Vital Statistics System in USA studied and compiled data on drug overdose deaths and several publications/latest reports are available. (4-8) These show the risks associated with indiscriminate use of medicines as also needs for research, data collection and processing for creating public awareness about darker side of medicines. It also rings alarm bells about importance of Pharmaceutical Care.
Empowering Pharmacists is a gigantic task as the system is completely non-existent in developing and under-developed countries and in this plight India has to play a major role by establishing benchmark for others to follow. The overall need is to reorganize pharmacy services, establishment of Directorate of Pharmacy, implementation of 'Seven-Star Pharmacist' concept of WHO and empower Pharmacists in collaboration with FIP to leave footprint for others to follow as the whole world now looks towards India for innovation, transformation, and operational excellence and this applies to pharmaceutical care too. India has attained the distinction of Pharmacy of the world. It must provide world class pharmaceutical care through its Hospital and Community Pharmacy network and get another milestone achieved. India has ighest number of pharmacy colleges in the world, it produces highest number of pharmacists every year and Indian Pharmacists occupy good positions abroad. However, for lack of opportunities and planning at home we couldn't leave deserved deep footprint in pharmaceutical care sector.
Let this World Pharmacists Day celebration across India and the deliberations there at prove useful in turning the table on our side. Each and every pharmacist must work hard for it.
Pharmacists of the World must join hands to make the WPD theme a remarkable impact on life and health of global community.
Long live Pharmacists unity.
References
1. WHO/PHARM/97/599. The Role of the Pharmacist in the Health Care System. World Health Organisation (1997), 3.2 page 3-4.
2. Declaration of Alma-Ata. International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma-Ata, USSR, 6-12 September 1978. Available at cdn.who.int/medi Accessed 23.09.2026.
3. National Health Policy 2017. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
4. Garnett MF, Cisewski JA, Ahmad FB. Drugs most frequently involved in drug overdose deaths: United States, 2017-2023. NCHS Nat Vital Stat Rep, vol. 75 (1), 2026. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174640 (02/2026)
5. Garnett MF, Miniño AM. Drug overdose deaths in the United States, 2023–2024. NCHS Data Brief, no 549, 2026. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174639 (01/2026)
6. Garnett MF, Miniño AM. Changes in drug overdose mortality and selected drug type by state: United States, 2022 to 2023. NCHS Health E-Stats. 2025. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174578 (02/2025)
7. Garnett MF, Miniño AM. Drug overdose deaths in the United States, 2003–2023. NCHS Data Brief, no 522. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2024. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/170565 (12/2024)
8. Spencer MR, Garnett MF, Miniño AM. Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 2002–2022. NCHS Data Brief, no 491. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics 2024. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:135849. (03/2024
