Donation of 50 Historical Books to mark World Pharmacists Day 

On the occasion of World Pharmacists Day, the Department of Pharmacy, University of Malta, received a donation of 50 historical books related to pharmacy, chemistry and medicine from Professor John Rizzo Naudi. One of the oldest books to note in this donation is ‘The Surgical Anatomy of the Arteries of the Human Body’ by Irish Professor Robert Harrison dating back to 1833. Another book which was donated was written by the French Dr Charles-Michel Billard, the pioneer of neonatal medicine. The full first encyclopaedia of chemistry in Italian ‘Enciclopedia di Chimica’ by F. Selmi was also donated, as well as the 12-volume British encyclopaedia of medical practice.

The Department of Pharmacy within the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is very active on a national and international level.  This year the Department, in collaboration with the Malta Pharmaceutical Students Association (MPSA) and the Malta Pharmaceutical Association (MPhA), is celebrating World Pharmacists Day which is co-ordinated by the International Pharmaceutical Federation. The Faculty is looking forward to the last week of October when MPSA will be hosting the Autumn Assembly for the European Pharmaceutical Students Association in Malta.

The Department of Pharmacy has an active research programme covering different areas and has embarked successfully in offering a postgraduate professional doctorate, the PharmD, in collaboration with the College of Pharmacy of the University of Illinois, Chicago.  Following last year’s first intake of 18 pharmacists, 21 pharmacists from Malta and international students will this October be joining the programme.  These pharmacists are developing advanced skills in clinical pharmacy and contributing to the rational use of medicines and to ensuring patient safety.  They will be undertaking practice research which will advance medicine processes both locally and internationally.