This system does not replace the pharmacist, but provides support in prescribing and delivering the ever increasing array of pharmaceutical drugs accurately and effectively. And just as the discovery of the pedal radio in the 1920's transformed rural medicine by making the Royal Flying Doctor Service possible I believe a similar revolution is at hand today as advances in communications technology have the potential to once and for all conquer the 'tyranny of distance' as an influence on the standard of community healthcare. Health in the 21st century will be built on research and the commitment to turn the insights of medical science into pharmaceutical drugs that are safe to use and highly effective to the benefit of the health of people in our community. And as I emphasised to the graduating class yesterday, the future is not all about change. We should never forget the importance of the care pharmacists provide and the support they provide in the community.
Community pharmacists are very much a part of everyone's daily lives.
And they are important partners in supporting the health and well being of Australian communities. The national network of community pharmacies is an important part of Australia's health care infrastructure through which members of the community can obtain health and lifestyle advice, medicines information and a range of professional services, medical supplies and equipment. 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 requires 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 surmount every day in the profession.