Celebrating Australia's pharmacy technicians
National Pharmacy Technician Day celebrates the essential contribution that pharmacy technicians make throughout hospitals across Australia. And to mark the occasion, The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) has released a video showcasing the insights and experiences of some of these integral care team members.
The video release occurs one month before Medicines Management 2019 (MM2019), the 45th SHPA National Conference, which will feature a dedicated technician stream.
SHPA Chief Executive Kristin Michaels said that while pharmacy technician roles and responsibilities vary from hospital to hospital and state to state, the focus is the same.
“Regardless of work setting, pharmacy technicians deliver precise technical services as an essential part of hospital pharmacy departments focused on patient care,” she explained.
“National Pharmacy Technician Day is a great reminder to pause and take stock of the enormous value our technicians bring to the hospital pharmacy workforce, from day-to-day support to contributing to improving policy, procedures and prescribing practices within hospital settings.”
Michaels commented that this year will see a national award granted to a pharmacy technician as part of the inaugural SHPA Members’ Awards.
“We are looking forward to announcing the 2019 SHPA Technician of the Year, determined via member vote, at MM2019, which will be held [on] 14–16 November on the Gold Coast.
“Once again, the SHPA National Conference will feature a stream devoted to technicians and pharmacy assistants, as well as a number of lightning talks focused on innovations in the profession.
“In 2017, SHPA welcomed technicians as voting members and we remain committed to advocating for the growth of technician and pharmacy assistant roles, as part of efforts to advance Australia’s pharmacy workforce,” she said.
For more information on MM2019, click here.
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