advanced practice pharmacist Debbie Rigby (pictured), has lauded the diversity of career choices in the pharmaceutical industry. Crediting International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) as the owner and promoter of World Pharmacists Day, Rigby said “it is an ideal time to celebrate the everyday contributions of pharmacists, for the quality use of medicines in the management of asthma and associated allergies”. She acknowledged the importance of the varied career pathways available to pharmacists, beyond the traditional roles available in community and hospital pharmacy. “Pharmacists should be wherever medicines are – in the home, in aged care disability services, in Aboriginal Medical Services, as well as in academia, education and across industry. “This diversity of practice will only continue to grow as we face an ageing population and a growing number of complex medicines,” Rigby said. As the National Asthma Council Clinical Executive Lead, Rigby also reminded the industry all that most adults and adolescents with asthma should be taking a preventer every day to avoid asthma flare-ups. “Pharmacists credentialed to conduct Home Medicines Reviews have an ideal opportunity to do a comprehensive patient assessment. “Using validated tools to assess asthma control, you can provide patient education after discussing the patient’s beliefs, preferences and attitudes,” Rigby explained. “Pharmacists have an important role to play in checking asthma inhaler device technique, assessing adherence to therapy, and providing recommendations to prescribers on guideline-based treatment,” Rigby commented. Community pharmacists play an important role in ensuring optimal treatment for patients with concomitant asthma and allergic rhinitis, Rigby added. “Identify those patients who may ask for pharmacy-only medicines for their hayfever, and then recommend appropriate treatment,” said Rigby, who has worked for over 40 years across clinical pharmacy practice, interdisciplinary care, policy and advocacy, clinical governance, guidelines development and education in Australia. JG