The 186th Annıversary Of Scıentıfıc Pharmacy Was Celebrated As Part Of The May 14 Pharmacy Day Events
THE 186TH ANNIVERSARY OF SCIENTIFIC PHARMACY WAS CELEBRATED AS PART OF THE MAY 14 PHARMACY DAY EVENTS
On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, the celebrations for "Pharmacy Day," honouring the 186th anniversary of the foundation of academic pharmacy in Turkiye with the opening of the first pharmacy class at the Mekteb-i Tıbbiye-i Şahane in 1839, began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Atatürk Monument in Cumhuriyet Square.
The events organized by the TEB 25th Region Mersin Chamber of Pharmacists, continued with a ceremony held at the MESAP Conference Hall of the Mersin Chamber of Pharmacists. The ceremony was attended by our Vice-Rector Prof. Ahmet Hakan ÖZTÜRK, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy Prof. Necmiye CANACANKATAN, Board Member of Mersin Medical Association Dr. Abbas KOLUAÇIK,
Central Committee Member of Turkish Pharmacists Association Msc. Pharm. Özgün SAĞIR, President of the TPA 25th District Mersin Chamber of Pharmacists Pharm. Aliye AKGÜL AYDIN, Secretary General of Güney Ecza Cooperative Pharm. Çağrı Erdem ÖZDEMİR, academic and administrative staff, and students of the Faculty of Pharmacy. The ceremony began with a moment of silence and the national anthem.
Our Vice- Rector, Prof. Ahmet Hakan ÖZTÜRK stated that “14 May is the date that first gave scientific status to pharmacy activities in our country, and that pharmacists hold a very important place within our country’s health services and were among the first professional groups to take swift action for public health during the pandemic and earthquake.” Our Vice-Rector, Prof. Ahmet Hakan ÖZTÜRK, stated that “the Faculty of Pharmacy at Mersin University has developed rapidly since its establishment and crowned its success with the accreditation of its education programme for the second time. He congratulated the Faculty management and teaching staff and thanked TPA 25th District Mersin Chamber of Pharmacists for their cooperation.
Our Faculty Dean, Prof. Necmiye CANACANKATAN, stated, ‘14 May Pharmacy Day is not a special day not only for professional celebrations; it is also a day when we seek solutions to the problems faced by pharmacy, set common goals for a stronger pharmacy, and plan the steps together that will shape our future.”
Referring to the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)'s roadmap for 2030, Prof. Necmiye CANACANKATAN highlighted the importance of pharmacists taking a more active role in healthcare services, the development of digital health technologies and tele-pharmacy, teamwork, and continuous professional development. Emphasising the faculty's national and international prestige, Prof. Necmiye CANACANKATAN stated that our faculty has been awarded full accreditation for a second time by ECZAKDER for a period of six years, starting from 2025.
Prof. Necmiye CANACANKATAN stated that pharmacy education forms the basis of the profession and that the Faculty views university-industry collaboration as an integral part of the education process. She added that protocols have been established with Abdi İbrahim and Eczacıbaşı Pharmaceuticals Marketing companies within this scope.
In her closing remarks, Prof. Necmiye CANACANKATAN congratulated 14 May Pharmacy Day of all her fellow pharmacists and academics, as well as students, who are the pharmacists of the future.
Following the Dean Prof. Dr. Necmiye CANACANKATAN speech, the TPA 25th Region Mersin Chamber of Pharmacists President Pharm. Aliye Akgül AYDIN, Secretary General of Güney Ecza Cooperative Pharm. Çağrı Erdem ÖZDEMİR, Mersin Medical Association Board Member Dr Abbas KOLUAÇIK and Central Committee Member of Turkish Pharmacists Association Msc. Pharm. Özgün SAĞIR also delivered speeches.
Following the speeches, Duygu AKSOY gave a presentation entitled ‘Developments in the Health Sector and Pharmacy in Light of New Regulations and Technologies’.
As part of the event, plaques and certificates were presented to pharmacists who have completed 50 and 25 years in the profession, to esteemed faculty members of Mersin University Faculty of Pharmacy for their academic achievements, and to pharmacists who contributed to education by accepting intern students.
