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Since 2011, the National Association of Private Pharmacists, with the cooperation of the Hungarian Pharmaceutical Society, has been announcing awards for pharmacists and pharmacies every year. This year, reached its 14th occasion.
The press gathering was held at one of Budapest most attractive roof top 7th floor presentation hall at the Aria Hotel – Budapest. Were present Dr. Bálint Mikola – founding president of the National Association of Private Pharmacists, Dr. Antal Samu – Founding President of the Professional Committee of Pharmaceutical Care, Prof. Dr. Gábor Halmos – Managing Director of Nero Solution Ltd. – University Teacher, Dr. El Koulali Zakariás – Vice President of the Hungarian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Lajos Hodossy – Managing Director of Roche Magyarország Ltd.
First speaker was Dr. El Koulali Zakariás – Vice President of the Hungarian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences, who pointed out that the aging population of the developed world and the problematic above age 65 brings hugh attention to the professionals with patients taking of 15 pills a day., a real killer. Today there are the number of 3000 pharmacies around Hungary … (taking in mind the number of pharmacies of Hungary which lies within 93030 square kilometers, and roughly has 9,730,526 inhabitants.)
The aging population of the developed world and the problematic above 65 of age taking a dozen pills/day. The area of Hungary is 93,030 square kilometers, and 9,730,526 people have 3,000 pharmacies. During the presentations Dr. Samu Antal made a remarkable statement that “Not important to live for the age of 90 with struggling pains all over.” The goal is to live healthy without pains and not to “eat” more-and-more unessesary drugs! Globally, 50% of the drugs are badly taken… causing undesired effects.
Dr. Bálint Mikola told, it is rare to find such a wide-ranging tender, which covers every corner of the country from East-and-West, from micro-regions to specialist care institutions. This definitely encourages the organizers that these applications and applicants should be embraced, presented given a podium, so that we can make these valuable ideas that they have developed into public property. This is especially important today, when we see the struggles of the health care system, therefore if we combine our efforts, we may have opportunity to help improve the situation and patient care. Also emphasized that patient care is burdened. He gave an example of a previous professional visit to Ireland, whereas, the doctor and the pharmacist work closly together, they constantly consult and support guidelines to the family doctor to cure the patient’s health being. Of course, this is achieved by the patient replacing his medication at the same pharmacy. It often happens that he/she takes 15 different medicines/day and because of this, his/her health condition does not improve due to the interaction of the medicines.
Dr. Lajos Hodossy – Managing Director of Roche Hungary highlighting the importance of personalized pharmaceutical care changing benefit of the patient. This would be a huge opportunity in healthcare for patients in Hungary as well, so it would not “poison the patient” with unnecessary side-effect medicines.
In the “My Favorite Pharmacy” contest, the patients can directly form their opinion on the pharmacy’s work with their vote, which (in contrast to the other award) will qualify the work of the entire pharmacy. By the end of the voting, the pharmacy with the most votes will be the winner and can bear the honorary title of My Favorite Pharmacy. The undisclosed goal of the initiative is to better introduce and recognize pharmaceutical work. Many people probably remember, for example, that during the COVID epidemic, when most health care facilities were forced to close, but at the same pharmacies remained open continuously and, in addition to dispensing preparations, also helped those who came to them with professional advice.
With the “Pharmacist of the Year” award, the organizers goal is to recognize a professional who is not only popular among their patients (laymen), but who can also demonstrate outstanding professional performance, so a professional application that elaborates on one of the 10 possible topics also required. The application is open, all active pharmacists can participate. The applications are judged anonymously by the members of the professional jury, and the award ceremony is to be held at the XXXIV Private Pharmacists National Congress. Members of the professional jury: Dr. Bálint Mikola – Honorary president of the National Association of Private Pharmacists, Prof. dr. Éva Szökő – Public health expert – President of the Hungarian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prof. dr. Ildikó Csóka – Director General of Strategy at the University of Szeged – Head of Department, Prof. dr. Gábor Halmos – Deputy dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Debrecen – Head professor, Dr. Antal Samu – Founder of pharmaceutical care in Hungary.
Partly in the spirit and taking into account the high quality of the projects and the professional interest, the Judging Committee together with the organizers published the updated projects of the previously awarded pharmacists in the form of a separate, printed publication told Prof. Dr. Gábor Halmos – Managing Director of Nero Solution Ltd. – University Teacher.
On the website https://www.evgyogyszeresze.hu/ (Hungarian) everyone can nominate and vote for the pharmacist they think is the best. After summarizing the proposals received, the jury will ask the professionals who receive the most proposals (votes) to submit a professional application, and during this coming Fall will be chosen from among them. There are still 84 days left to vote!
Riport and snap by Aggie Reiter
Rolling in Budapest 