World Pharmacist Day, celebrated on September 25, often overlooked or even forgotten, was marked this year by a bold and urgent proposal: the creation of a professional order to defend the interests of Mozambican pharmacists.
The proposal emerged during a celebration themed "Pharmacist: Meeting Global Health Needs," which highlighted the challenges and the crucial role these professionals play in public health.
The idea of creating a professional order is not just a quest for recognition but a commitment to excellence. This day underscored the urgency of recognizing and valuing the role of pharmacists in society, which goes far beyond dispensing medications. They are guardians of public health, whose responsibility is to save lives with knowledge, ethics, and courage, as highlighted by Artur Nhanengue, Director of the Pharmaceutical Department at Maputo Central Hospital (HCM). He emphasized that the proposal aims to organize and regulate the profession more effectively, promoting ethics and quality in pharmaceutical activities.
The creation of a professional order is seen as a positive step to ensure the recognition and appreciation of a group that works tirelessly to ensure Mozambicans have access to safe medicines and quality healthcare services. Establishing such an order would be a decisive move for a profession that quietly upholds the health of millions.
One of the most critical issues raised was the diversion of medicines from the National Health Service to the parallel market, a problem that endangers public health and undermines the credibility of the sector. Professionals called for collaboration between authorities and the public to combat this illegal practice, which still persists.
However, the desire for greater autonomy and regulation within the profession motivated the proposal for the creation of a professional order. For pharmacists, this measure would not only bring organization and respect to the profession but would also strengthen the fight against the illegal trade of medicines, directly protecting public health and ensuring ethics and quality in the services provided.
(By Rafael Langa)
