Wesleyan University–Philippines (WUP), in collaboration with the Philippine Pharmacists Association (PPhA) and Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU), marked 2025 World Pharmacists Day with the theme “Think Health, Think Pharmacist – From Apothecaries to Modern Care,” on September 25, 2025, at the Jose, Justina, Dominga (JJD) Garcia Auditorium, WUP Cushman Campus.

The program featured talks on health awareness and professional practice. College of Allied Medical Sciences (CAMS) Dean Kay Ann J. Tongol, RPh, MSc, CIP, delivered a lecture on the “Generic Awareness Campaign,” which emphasized Republic Act No. 6675 or the Generics Act of 1988. The lecture highlighted the law’s mandate to use generic terminology to promote equitable access to safe, effective, and affordable medicines. It also discussed the benefits of generic medicines, including affordability, availability, comparable efficacy, and improved patient adherence, while clarifying common misconceptions about their safety and effectiveness. The talk underscored the responsibility of doctors, pharmacists, drugstores, and government offices to support the use of generics, uphold patients’ right to choose, and ensure the proper use of medicines to improve health outcomes and lessen financial burdens.

Ms. Ryza Liezel L. Patdo, RPm, RPsy, MAPSy, also presented “Think Health, Think Hope: Suicide Awareness through the Eye of the Pharmacist,” which focused on mental health awareness.

The afternoon program included competitions, the Mr. & Ms. WUP Pharmacy 2025 pageant, student presentations, and a faculty tribute.

The celebration also highlighted its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) through discussions on access to medicines and mental health awareness; SDG 4 (Quality Education) through knowledge sharing and professional development activities; SDG 5 (Gender Equality) through the Mr. & Ms. WUP Pharmacy 2025 pageant; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration with PPhA and OLFU.

Article by PIO
Information and photos courtesy of Kay Ann J. Tongol and CAMS