Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland

And it's really interesting.

Actually, I found this little tidbit the other day where whenever those early female pharmacists were being registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland...

They didn't even have certificates for them.

They just put an S in front of the H-E just to change it to she as now a pharmaceutical chemist.

So, as you've said, just behind me and just in front of you, we've got the photograph of the first council that we had led by Horatio Todd.

But there was quite a bit that happened before that.

So we know that Rose, for example, and James were part of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, which was formed in 1875.

When we have the Government Act of Ireland in 1920, we know partition has brought a lot of changes and a lot of professional groups have to think about where does their future lie? Can they exist as they have done across the whole island of Ireland? And remembering that Ireland and the history of pharmacy in Ireland was very strong.

Welcome to the United Drug Podcast.

Today we're delighted to be joined by the Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, Joanne Cassan.

Joanne is here to discuss the future of pharmacy practice in Ireland.

Pharmacy is rapidly evolving with expanding clinical roles, advances in digital healthcare and increasing expectation on pharmacists as accessible healthcare professionals.

And I suppose especially at a time when we're about to celebrate World Pharmacists Day.

And I think the theme this year is very, I suppose, akin to and relevant in the context of where we are for pharmacy at the moment, which is empowering pharmacists for healthier futures.

So just for the listeners who may be less familiar with the role, I am the registrar and the chief officer of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.

So we're the pharmacy regulator.