Reimagining pharmacy: leadership renewal, professional ontology, and a global call for impact

Abstract

As South Africa marks Pharmacy Month under the banner “Think Health, Think Pharmacy – One Profession, Many Roles”, the landscape of the profession is being redrawn by dynamic leadership transitions, explicit calls for social accountability, and renewed reflection on pharmacy’s foundational ontology. Globally, the FDA’s action in September to initiate a label change for acetaminophen (Tylenol and similar products) to reflect evidence suggesting that use by pregnant women may be associated with an increased risk of neurological conditions such as autism and ADHD in children is not merely a regulatory footnote—it is a cautionary tale in the collective evolution of pharmaceutical practice, reminding all South African pharmacists that our currency lies not only in the products we dispense, but in the calibrated judgment we apply to their risks and benefits, especially for vulnerable populations. The recent appointment of Professor Renier Coetzee as President, with Johannes Ravele as Deputy President, and Lynette Terblanche as Honorary Treasurer, signals a generational and strategic shift. Their stewardship will influence not only national policy discussions but also international participation in humanitarian health agendas.