We were invited to a small parking lot gathering, plus guided tour, celebrating a milestone in the life of the pharmacy, un upgrade to public rating, an honor earned differentiating Eagle Service Pharmacy from its previous rating as a basic pharmacy.
The pharmacy has also become a center for learning, under the direction of Adrienne Tromp, the first pharmacist on the island to graduate a special 2-year curriculum, over and above her first two academic, pharmaceutical degrees. She will from now on dedicate her time to helping other ambitious pharmacists attain the ultimate degrees in their profession, reaching a specialist rank.
Over the past three and a half months, at record speed, Botica di Servicio Eagle reviewed and revised all its systems in accordance to HKZ, Harmonisatie Kwaliteitsbeoorderling in de Zorgsector, to institute quality practices with 100% failsafe methods.
Not that they were sloppy before, but now the Botica flaunts an international accreditation certificate to prove it is operating under the highest industry standards.
By undergoing this complicated audit, supported by the Netherlands, the pharmacy elevated its distribution guarantees, focusing on the safety and security of medications, and all other services.
The Minister of Public Health was quick to appropriate some of the credit when he announced in his short address that the upgrade and the new safeguards were in accordance to his own vision of an improved healthcare system for Aruba, including enhanced customer service.
It was all his idea, in line with GOA’s grand plan.
But he also acknowledged the significant investment made by the pharmacy during hard times, an investment designed to eliminate any possible irregularity or glitch. As part of the accreditation the pharmacy refrigerators now contain sensors, alerting the head-pharmacist, in case of current interruptions, and fluctuations of temperatures.
These people thought about everything, instituting a check-check-double-check protocol, and that is just one example of their meticulousness.
The Minister of Labor came prepared, and talked very well about adult learning, crediting the UN’s SDG, sustainable development goals, in this case #4, dedicated to quality education.
Obtaining a quality of education is the foundation to improving people’s lives in sustainable development, he announced, and the improved access to higher education and training here, on the island, as part of the Botica’s mission, was praise-worthy and will hopefully serve as a role-model to all other pharmacies and pharmacists to follow.
The Botica introduced a professional looking, nicely uniform, cheerful, energetic and motivated team, under the leadership of the dynamic Lennert v/d Poel, who assembled a very impressive cadre of trainers, managers, supervisors and floor personnel, aided in the process by Anoeska Wever.
The Botica also unveiled a new logo, and a refreshed, redesigned exterior look.
The gathering enjoyed the presence of AZV representation as well as Respaldo, Inspection and other colleagues in related fields, sharing the joy of the occasion: Botica di Servicio Eagle is now the first Botica in Aruba with a HKZ certification, in accordance with ISO 9001, the only one in the Caribbean, in fact the only one outside the Netherlands, a Public Pharmacy and a Training Center.
