You should never forget the importance of your role as pharmacists. Community pharmacists are often the first point of contact for patients seeking information and advice about medicines and their management. Good advice given at the right time, will often save your customer the need and inconvenience of any further treatment. I know that at times this will require you to have the wisdom of Solomon and know at least as much if not more about the customer, their medical history and appropriate treatments than their GP does. That is one of the great challenges you face in the profession.
Community pharmacists are also very much a part of everyone's daily lives.
And they are important partners in supporting the health and well being of Australian communities. Pharmacists have been entrusted by the Government, along with other health professional groups, with the shared responsibility of maintaining quality, safe and affordable pharmaceutical services to all Australians, ensuring that all Australians enjoy optimum health. Pharmacists are a central part of the healthcare delivery formula and are held in high esteem by the Australian public. The Government's commitment to pharmacists and support for the profession is demonstrated by a number of important and tangible measures. The PBS as it is commonly known is the cornerstone of the Government's strategy for providing affordable pharmaceuticals to the community.