Healing in Silence: The Timeless Role of Pharmacists

On this World Pharmacists Day 2025, we look back at a profession that has quietly sustained healthcare for centuries.

From the early days of apothecaries preparing remedies to the modern era of highly trained professionals in hospitals and community pharmacies, pharmacists have always been integral to patient care. Their contributions often escape the spotlight, yet their presence remains vital in ensuring treatment safety, accessibility, and continuity.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), pharmacists were widely recognized for their frontline role in patient recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Globally, the INSPIRE survey spanning 25 countries revealed that over 90% of pharmacists addressed urgent requests for drug information, more than 80% provided reassurance to concerned patients, and nearly 80% worked actively to challenge misinformation surrounding treatments and vaccines.

In Ethiopia, another study showed that 98.8% of community pharmacists felt their services were directly impacted by the pandemic, highlighting the strain of medicine shortages, increased patient demand, and heavier workloads. These numbers underscore the strength of a profession that continually evolves and rises to the challenge under pressure.

Local professional groups echo this reality. The Kenya Pharmaceutical Association (KPA) affirms that pharmacists are essential in guaranteeing the availability of safe, effective, and affordable medicines nationwide.

The Hospital Pharmacists Association of Kenya (HOPAK) emphasizes pharmacists’ accountability in managing hospital medication inventories and contributing to public health initiatives.

This World Pharmacists Day, let us reflect on their legacy. Pharmacists are far more than dispensers, they are trusted advisors, emergency responders, and unwavering protectors of health, whose dedication sustains communities in ways that are often unseen but deeply impactful.