WHEREAS, pharmacy is one of the oldest of the health professions concerned with the health and well-being of all people, and
WHEREAS, today, there are over 315,000 pharmacists licensed in the United States providing services to assure the rational and safe use of all medications; and,
WHEREAS, the use of medication, as a cost-effective alternative to more expensive medical procedures, is becoming a major force in moderating overall health care costs; and,
WHEREAS, today’s powerful medications require greater attention to the manner in which they are used by different patient population groups, both clinically and demographically; and,
WHEREAS, it is important that all users of prescription and nonprescription medications, or their caregivers, be knowledgeable about and share responsibility for their own drug therapy; and,
WHEREAS, pharmacists are specifically educated with a focus and level of expertise on medication therapy that exceeds that of other health care providers, plus are ideally suited to work collaboratively with other health care providers and patients to improve medication use and outcomes by providing services through medication therapy management; and,
WHEREAS, pharmacists provide both expertise and accessibility which are crucial to patients fully optimizing access to medications, and provide patient care that ensures optimal medication therapy outcomes; and
WHEREAS, the American Pharmacists Association, and the Carolina Association of Pharmacy Students at the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy have declared October as American Pharmacists Month;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October, 2021, as “AMERICAN PHARMACISTS MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.