SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1999-8608

By Senators Franklin, Rasmussen, B. Sheldon, Deccio, Wojahn, Johnson, Honeyford, Fraser and Kohl-Welles

     WHEREAS, All citizens should be made aware of the safe, proper, effective, and efficient use of medications; and

     WHEREAS, Nearly half of the medicines prescribed are used incorrectly, thus contributing to prolonged illness, avoidable side-effects and interactions, and unnecessary hospitalizations; and

     WHEREAS, The efforts of our educational, state, and voluntary pharmacy organizations are instrumental in teaching the public about the safe and proper use of medicines; and

     WHEREAS, According to the Board of Pharmacy, there are approximately 4,800 licensed pharmacists in the state of Washington; and

     WHEREAS, Pharmacists are devoted to improving patient care in collaboration with other health professionals; and

     WHEREAS, In the past ten years, national polls have consistently ranked pharmacists as the most highly respected and trusted professionals; and

     WHEREAS, Governor Locke has proclaimed February 1, 1999, to be Pharmacy Day in the state of Washington;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate do hereby join the Governor in so honoring our state=s pharmacists; those dedicated women and men who play such a critical role in safeguarding the health and well-being of the citizens of our state, and who are committed to the advancement of high quality and cost-effective health care.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1999-8608,

adopted by the Senate January 29, 1999.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate