MORE than 7,450 community pharmacists and industry professionals have attended this year's APP conference, experiencing four days of educational sessions and networking functions, making the conference the most successful in its 33-year history.
Highlights of the conference include the keynote speaker, Mark Butler, Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, who congratulated the profession on their commitment to Australia's healthcare sector and continuing to provide accessible health services and treatments to the many communities across the country.
Mark Burdon, UK pharmacist prescriber and Secretary General of World Pharmacy Council, spoke about the positive impact pharmacists practicing to their full scope made to the overwhelmed National Health Service.
"We've seen the profession go from strength to strength and as of 2026, UK universities will incorporate scope of practice into graduate level certificates, which means we will have generations of pharmacists working to their full scope of practice," said Burdon.
Conference Convenor, Kos Sclavos AM, said the attendance numbers truly reflect the strength in the profession and the desire to continue learning about the clinical developments and changes happening across the sector.
"I couldn't be more proud as a pharmacist seeing the profession turn up in record numbers.
"Reconnecting with industry peers and learning from world-class leaders is what APP is all about.
"We are on the countdown for next year's APP to be held from 14-17 Mar 2024," said Sclavos.
MEANWHILE, at APP, the 2022 MIMS/Guild Intern of the Year award went to Georgina Morris from LiveLife Pharmacy Bowen Healthcare, Qld, who said being named the winner is a "true honour".
"As an indigenous student I felt immense responsibility to relocate to a rural area for my internship to influence the health outcomes of fellow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders members in the community".
Robert Best, CEO and Executive Director of MIMS Australia and New Zealand, congratulated Morris saying, "for close to 60 years, MIMS has been committed to supporting young healthcare professionals like Georgina across Australia from all parts of the healthcare ecosystem".
Pictured (L-R): Robert Bees, Georgina Morris, and Guild President Trent Twomey.
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