UBTH Pharmacy Department Marks World Pharmacists Day 2026, Highlights Pharmacists’ Role in Safer Patient Care.

UBTH Pharmacy Department Marks World Pharmacists Day 2026, Highlights Pharmacists’ Role in Safer Patient Care.

The Pharmacy Department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, has joined the global pharmacy community in commemorating World Pharmacists Day 2026, using the occasion to highlight the profession’s growing contribution to patient care, medication safety, health education, research and healthcare innovation.

The commemoration, held on Friday, September 25, was organised around the 2026 World Pharmacists Day theme, “Empowering pharmacists for healthier futures,” which was announced by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) to underscore the importance of equipping pharmacists with the skills, recognition and institutional support required to respond to evolving healthcare needs.

As part of activities marking the day, the UBTH Pharmacy Department, led by its Head, Dr. (Mrs.) Edith Yovwin, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Idia Ize Iyamu.

The engagement provided an opportunity for the pharmacists to draw attention to their role in optimizing patient care and promoting the safe and effective use of medicines. The delegation was received on behalf of the Chief Medical Director by UBTH DCMAC, Research and Ethics, Prof. Adebola Ehizele, who appreciated the department for the engagement.

Prof. Ize-Iyamu commended pharmacists for their contributions to quality healthcare delivery, both within UBTH and more broadly across the health sector.

The department also used the occasion to highlight the wider responsibilities of pharmacists beyond medicine dispensing, including patient education, medication safety, research and innovation. These areas have become increasingly important as healthcare systems respond to more complex treatment needs and demand greater emphasis on patient centred care.

The role of pharmacists in clinical practice is also reflected in research involving UBTH. A 2025 study involving clinical pharmacists at the hospital examined the identification, resolution and documentation of drug therapy problems across several pharmacy units, underscoring the contribution of pharmacy professionals to safer medication use and improved patient care.

World Pharmacists Day is observed annually on September 25 and was established by the International Pharmaceutical Federation to recognize the contribution of pharmacists and the wider pharmacy workforce to health systems. FIP says the 2026 campaign places particular emphasis on prevention, access to care, health system resilience and the need for supportive policies that allow pharmacists to contribute fully to healthcare delivery.

The 2026 observance has also generated calls across Nigeria for greater integration of pharmacists into healthcare planning and delivery. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said on September 25 that the Federal Government remained committed to strengthening the pharmacy profession and expanding pharmacists’ contribution to safe, accessible healthcare.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria has similarly urged pharmacists to broaden their contribution to patient centred care, public health and technology enabled healthcare as the profession adapts to developments including artificial intelligence and digital health.

At UBTH, the World Pharmacists Day engagement therefore served both as a celebration of the profession and as an opportunity to reinforce the importance of collaboration among healthcare professionals in improving patient outcomes and strengthening the delivery of quality healthcare services.