His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is to host a reception at St James’s Palace in early May to celebrate exemplary work of community pharmacist during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Up to 200 community pharmacists have been invited by Prince Charles to the event organized to "celebrate community pharmacists", which commences at 5:30pm on Wednesday, May 4 at the London residence of the Prince of Wales.
The invitation comes in less than six months after Prince Charles praised community pharmacists for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic in a video message sent to the National Pharmacy Association (NPA)’s centenary dinner at Apothecaries' Hall in central London in November last year.
He said throughout the pandemic pharmacy teams' "commitment to patient care has never wavered, despite the many enormous pressures you have faced.
"During this pandemic period, we have learned, as never before, that pharmacies are one of those vital places where science and society meet. Crucially, they are about people and places, not just pills."
Prince Charles also lauded the profession for showing "a great example in drawing your talent from across the rich diversity of communities that make up our nation, and, in so doing, have made an enormous contribution to our society in the widest sense.
"While a great deal has changed in the way pharmaceuticals are manufactured and supplied over the past century, the community pharmacist’s role as an approachable and accessible first port of call for medicines, and for advice, has remained constant."
According to an insider, those invited include members of the Company Chemists' Association, the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies and the NPA, who "have been asked to arrange the event on behalf of the sector".
Cat Smith, Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre