The President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), Dr Gillian Hawksworth referred to the excellent contribution made by Dr Lilian Azzopardi lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy to the International Pharmaceutical sphere. The following is what Dr Hawksworth said during the launch of a book in pharmacy practice at the Ministry of Health earlier this month.
"It gives me great pleasure to be invited here to Malta for the launch of the book written by Lilian Azzopardi. It is indeed an honour to be asked to represent the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and the Pharmaceutical Press.
"I was especially pleased when I heard that Lilian had written this excellent book as I had the privilege of being involved with her through several communications when we were both involved with active research for our individual Ph.Ds which were on complimentary themes.
"Lilian's research led to the publication of the book Validation instruments for community pharmacy: pharmaceutical care for the third millennium in 2000. My research led to, I believe among other things, eventually to my becoming president of the RPSGB and meeting Lilian in person at the FIP meeting in Australia this year.
"As a community pharmacist I can say what an excellent contribution Lilian has made to the understanding of quality standards in community pharmacy practice. Clinical governance is key. She has helped to bring together pharmacy practice in our two countries and I sincerely hope, in the future, relations between the RPSGB and Malta will flourish.
"To practise pharmacy effectively and accountably, it is important for practitioners to have a sound, contemporary and comprehensive database. Continual professional development demands the continual update of our knowledge and one way of reflecting on that need, is self assessment of the skills, knowledge and attitudes that are relevant to an individual's practice. Competence to practise and the relevant skills, knowledge and attitudes frameworks, are crucial pieces of work the RPSGB is currently embarking on. MCQs in Pharmacy Practice is an important way of achieving a baseline assessment.
"Lilian's book, published by the Pharmaceutical Press, is a valuable tool for both students of pharmacy and pharmacists and I have already 'tested' my knowledge base using the book. Presidents also have to keep up to date especially practising pharmacists.
"In Great Britain pharmacists coming on to the register of the RPSGB in future years will enter a profession that is looking to deliver 'a vision for pharmacy' in terms of pharmacists prescribing and medicine management. Pharmacists will be in the future even more so, working closely with doctors and nurses whether in primary or secondary care. This places pharmacists at the forefront of patient care and places a duty on them, along with all the associated accountability. As a teacher and pre-registration tutor myself for may years, I know it will be to the benefit of many patients in the future that pharmacists have had the chance to improve patient outcomes through their knowledge base enhanced by this book."
"By way of background information to this excellent book and to all the hard work of the editor and contributors, I thought I would give a brief overview of the Pharmaceutical Press and its work. The Pharmaceutical Press is the publications division of the RPSGB. It has been producing high quality publications on pharmacy and related disciplines for over 150 years.
"The Pharmaceutical Press produces a wide range of publications, which are valued by healthcare professionals around the world. The publications include Martindale: the complete drug reference, the BNF (or British National Formulary), Stockley's Drug Interactions and the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. In addition, there are a range of books, journals and electronic publications that provide core information for those working in or studying pharmacy, pharmacology and the pharmaceutical sciences. In collaboration with both new and established authors and editors the list of publications is significantly expanding to provide authoritative and comprehensive information on medicines for all modern healthcare professionals."