South Australian Pharmacist of the Year 2009

South Australian Pharmacist of the Year 2009


Mr Irfan Hashmi

Mr Irfan Hashmi has been awarded the 2009 Pharmacist of the Year in South Australia and was presented with the award at an annual dinner hosted by the South Australia branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia on Saturday 22 August 2009. Both Mr Hashmi, and his wife Sobia, practised pharmacy in Pakistan before migrating to Australia. They then completed the APC examination process and now successfully operate four pharmacies in South Australia both in cities and rural environments.

Mr Hashmi has since trained three APC candidates and now employs two full time pharmacists who have also completed the APC process.

Mr Irfan Hashmi has been awarded the 2009 Pharmacist of the Year in South Australia and was presented with the award at an annual dinner hosted by the South Australia branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia on Saturday 22 August 2009. Both Mr Hashmi, and his wife Sobia, practised pharmacy in Pakistan before migrating to Australia. They then completed the APC examination process and now successfully operate four pharmacies in South Australia both in cities and rural environments. Mr Hashmi has since trained three APC candidates and now employs two full time pharmacists who have also completed the APC process.

Mr Hashmi spoke positively of the encouragement and support given to him during the APC process by the APC members, Mr Peter Halstead and Mr Tim Gross, and also spoke highly of the encouragement given to him in opening a pharmacy in a rural environment in which there had been no previous pharmacy.

While it was sometimes difficult to study and travel long distances to work and, at the same time settle in a new country with a young family, Mr and Mrs Hashmi consider this period a great time in their life. They are both an inspiration to other APC candidates undertaking the examination process.

Mr Hashmi is the first APC candidate to achieve the SA Pharmacist of the Year award and the APC congratulates him and wishes both him and his wife every success in the future.