WHEREAS, pharmacy is one of the oldest of the health professions concerned with the health and well-being of all people; and
WHEREAS, today, the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy reports more than 12,600 active pharmacists residing in our state who are among over 300,000 pharmacists licensed in the United States providing services to assure the 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 and their caregivers be knowledgeable about and share responsibility for their own drug therapy; and
WHEREAS, pharmacists, due to their specific education, are ideally suited to work collaboratively with other health care providers and their 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 State of North Carolina recognizes the specialized work that pharmacists carry out every day in order to ensure our residents are healthy and well-informed;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October, 2023, as “AMERICAN PHARMACISTS MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.