Maltese Pharmacist Directory

Alison Anastasi has published the 2003 edition of the Maltese Pharmacist Directory. The directory is a result of a study carried out as part of a project on Pharmacist Manpower as part of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy Honours. This was done under the supervision of Dr Lilian Azzopardi with the collaboration of Professor Anthony Serracino Inglott, head of the Department of Pharmacy.

The Department of Pharmacy at the University of Malta has given due importance to an area of Pharmacy management which is sometimes referred to as Social Aspects of Pharmacy. One such contribution is the publication of the Directory of Pharmacists, which is always welcomed by all pharmacists.

The directory is meant to be used for the benefit of pharmacists and the pharmaceutical services in general. One should not contemplate using the directory for any other purpose. The personal data gathered may also help to improve the communications between pharmacists. The directory is not a legal document and it is not meant to replace such publications as the registers of the Pharmacy Board.

The directory also provides data on the services provided by pharmacists. The most relevant service remains the pharmacist's direct contribution in the community when serving as the managing pharmacist or as a community pharmacist. A number of other pharmacists work as information scientists more commonly referred to as medical representatives.

Pharmacists also play an important role in the government health service. These include various aspects pertaining to medicines such as procurement, the regulatory unit, storage and distribution, dispensing through health centres or outpatients pharmacies, the inpatient pharmacy services in the various hospitals, policy, information and clinical services. A few pharmacists work in industry and in academia.

The directory gives indicative statistics with regard to this multi-faceted profession in its varied contributions all meant to provide the most suitable medicines to the right patient at the proper time and with the least inconvenience and unwanted effects. It also points out some important demographic characteristics of the profession such as the age and gender distribution of pharmacists and those who have retired or are away from the islands.

The directory is available from Charmaine Borg at the Department of Pharmacy on tel: 2134-3764, fax 2134-0427 or e-mail charmaine.borg @um.edu.mt