A parent collecting medicine for a sick child may have several questions: When should it be given? Can it be taken with food? What should they do if the child experiences a side effect? Clear answers can make all the difference to how safely and confidently the medicine is used.

This is the message behind South Africa’s 2026 Pharmacy Month theme, “Ask Your Pharmacist. Your Pharmacist, Your Partner in Health.” It encourages people to speak to their pharmacist about new prescriptions, minor ailments and long-term conditions.

Dr Martlie Mocke-Richter, a clinical pharmacist with a PhD in Clinical Pharmacology who serves on the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa’s National Executive Committee and chairs its Free State Branch, emphasizes the essential role pharmacists play in delivering safe, effective care across the health system. Pharmacists explain treatments, check for possible interactions and work with other healthcare professionals to support patient care. In hospitals, they may review treatment at the bedside. In community pharmacies, they offer accessible advice, while many also provide services such as blood pressure and blood glucose checks.

These conversations are especially valuable when it comes to antibiotics. Antibiotics can be essential for bacterial infections, but they do not treat colds or flu. Patients are encouraged to ask why an antibiotic has been prescribed, how to take it and when to seek further care.

The Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa also runs a competition during Pharmacy Month and World Pharmacists Day to recognise pharmacies that bring the campaign to life. Klinicare Pharmacy was among this year’s winners. Its team encouraged visitors to ask questions about their medicines and health, offering a free coffee to help start the conversation.

World Pharmacists Day, observed on 25 September, carried the 2026 theme “Empowering pharmacists for healthier futures.”

For communities across the Free State, that future starts with a simple step: ask your pharmacist.