125 stories for 125 years

Neil Naismith

Neil Naismith, was the National President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (1991-93), he was an outstanding and much loved leader of the pharmacy profession and a driving force in changes in pharmacy practice.

Neil qualified from the Victorian College of Pharmacy in 1958, to begin his career in hospital pharmacy. He began at the Footscray and District Hospital and in 1968 was appointed Chief Pharmacist of the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH), where he remained until he retired in 1997.

During his time at RMH, Neil saw the Pharmacy Department develop from being involved in the manufacture and supply of medicines, to a department made up of more than 50 pharmacists and technicians who play a major role in achieving rational use of medicines throughout the hospital. He tutored hundreds of trainees at the hospital, fuelling his passion for the education of pharmacists.

Neil established the first Drug Information Service in Australia to provide the medical, nursing and pharmacy professions with specialised, detailed information about drugs. He introduced ‘ward pharmacy’ to Victorian hospitals, where pharmacists work with medical and nursing staff, participating in therapeutic decisions and monitoring drug usage. 

Neil’s broad interest in pharmacy, lead him to become a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), Victorian Branch Council for 25 years, and the national Council for eight years, two of which he served as President.

Active in many areas of pharmacy, Neil was heavily involved in; the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia for more than 35 years, including nationally as Federal Secretary; Vice President, chairman of the Education Division; and inaugural administrator of the Australian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy. He was also a member of the Pharmacy Board of Victoria from 1974 and served as President between 1985 and 1989. During his presidency he was active in shaping policies on the education and practical training of pharmacy students and in the development of competency and practice standards for Australian pharmacists.

Neil was a founding member of the Victorian College of Pharmacy Foundation, with Alistair Lloyd and John Moore, in 2001. The foundation has contributed to the college by raising funds to support teaching, research and construction initiatives.

He was also closely involved in the management of a number of other important bodies, including the Australian Pharmaceutical Publishing Company, the Australian Pharmacy Research Centre, and the Australian College of Pharmacy Practice. Neil was also a member of many other health and professional organisations including the Victorian Health Services Review Council, a position he retained until his death.

Neil received many professional honours during his career including; a Boots Travelling Fellowship in 1966, a Churchill Fellowship in 1972, the Allan and Hanbury Medal in 1975, the Fred J Boyd Award for his contribution to hospital pharmacy in 1982, a PSA Honorary Fellowship in 1983 and the Merck Sharp and Dohme (Australia) Medal for Pharmacy Practice in 1993. In 1992 services to pharmacy were recognised publicly when he was appointed as a Member in the Order of Australia (AM).

Not long from his retirement from the hospital in 1997, Neil was diagnosed with a medical condition that would later take his life but refused to give in, continuing to contribute to his many interests, especially his loving family. Neil passed away in May 2002. His funeral was attended by over 700 family, friends, colleagues and pharmacy leaders. He is survived by his wife Maureen, their children Andrea, Simone, Paul and Fiona, and 11 grandchildren.

The annual State of the Nation Lecture has been renamed the Neil W Naismith Lecture in honour of his extensive contributions to the profession. The Therapeutic Guidelines annually sponsor the Neil Naismith award which is presented to the college’s pharmacy gold medallist.