The special role that pharmacists have in maintaining health will be highlighted with a special campaign during Pharmacy Awareness Week.

All of the Island's pharmacies this week will have special drop bottles for unused and expired medication and there will be special promotions in The Royal Gazette this week.

Yesterday Health Minister Nelson Bascome kicked off the Pharmacy Awareness Week, encouraging the public to turn in the old medication.

"People should check their medicines and make sure they are not using out-of-date medicines and should dispose of them,'' he said. "That's to make sure they're adequate for us.'' He added: "In Bermuda we have first-class pharmacy facilities. But my biggest concern is the cost of the medicines. In fact, we are looking at the total costs of health care.'' Mr. Bascome said pharmacists "are to be congratulated'' for the service they provide.

President of the Pharmacists Association, Cheryl Martins said Pharmacy Awareness Week was celebrated to raise pharmacists' profile around the world.

She said the role they play was vital to the health of patients and said they encourage people to ask for full explanations of the proper procedure to take their medicine.

"It's important because the pharmacist is the expert on drugs,'' Mrs. Martins said. "If someone is taking a medication, it's important to know that because we will know the proper combinations. For example, if someone has high blood pressure, they cannot take decongestants.'' She added: "We could give advice on which medicines to take and advise them on the side effects.

"I'd like to stress the patient has a right to buy from the pharmacy of their choice. But they should stay with that pharmacy to ensure their histories and other details are known. All that should be in one place.'' About old or expired medicines, Dr. Martins said: "Often they have a declining potency, and children can often get into forgotten packages -- risking their health.