"Certainly prescriptions these days are less handwritten ... it's becoming a lost art," he said.

"Electronic prescriptions will definitely be around to stay. They have some new apps coming out shortly which will improve it even more.

"It's a different working environment when you are not working with paper ... it's a change.

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"Ever since COVID-19 the phone rings hot. We used to do more people face-to-face but now we are doing a lot more over the phone and home-delivery."

Mr Hosemans started working at PharmaSave in 1997 and moved to regional Victoria for the lifestyle and job opportunities.

"I am originally from Melbourne and moved to Stawell in 1992," he said.

"I wanted to get a good managing position ... and then I stayed because of the country lifestyle.

"I thought why go back to the rat race when I can have a much nicer regular customer base in the country.

"I love being able to help people and to solve problems for people, to make sure they have the optimal medication for what they need."

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Mr Hosemans said medication mismanagement was one of the major causes of hospitalisaiton in Australia.

"A lot of thinking and assessing goes on when you receive a prescription," he said.

"Checking to make sure it's appropriate for the person and making sure the doses are right and consistent with their needs."

"It's certainly quite significant, so it's our job to try and make sure that issues with medication are minimised and things are taken correctly."

Mr Hosemans studied at the Victorian College of Pharmacy, now known as Monash University Parkville campus.

"Originally I wanted to get into medicine but I didn't end up getting the marks," he said.

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"I went into pharmacy and enjoyed it that much I stayed ... and I am still here."

Friday, September 25 is World Pharmacists Day, a time to reflect on the great work pharmacists do to ensure the communities they serve have access to the best possible medications and care.

The National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, George Tambassis, said celebrating the work of pharmacists was especially relevant this year.

"Communities throughout Australia have relied heavily on their pharmacists to help them get through some of the challenges we have all faced this year," he said.

"These challenges have included the bushfires, floods, drought and of course COVID-19.

"But I am immensely proud to say that regardless of the emergency or crisis, community pharmacists have been there for their patients.

"They have been there providing mental health support for drought victims, finding ways to get medicines to patients isolated by bushfires or flood, and establishing COVID-safe protocols to keep their pharmacies open."

Do you have a story to share? Get in touch - taylor.padfield@austcommunitymedia.com.au.

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