The FIP convenes a collection of stakeholders representing various global and regional networks with the goal of coordinating and catalysing actions to develop pharmacy education under the remit of the Pharmacy Education Taskforce. The Taskforce was established given the:
• growing pressure on countries and institutions to ensure appropriate educational investment in
health and scientific workforce and ultimately build workforce capacity for competent care and
scientific innovation and development against a background of challenging workforce trends;
• significant challenges institutions are facing in pharmacy education development and academic
workforce capacity, particularly in low and middle income countries where the workforce
shortages are the greatest; and
• strong stakeholder (eg – ministries of health and education, policy makers, pharmacy schools,
agencies, professional and scientific bodies) demand for guidance and pathways which are
evidence-based and can inform education and workforce development.
In addition to close consultation with FIP member organizations, regional and national pharmacy education bodies over two global Pharmacy Education Consultations in 2006 and 2007, a Pharmacy Education Action Plan was developed with the input of diverse stakeholders including the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization (UNESCO). The following describe the objectives of the Taskforce via the implementation of the Pharmacy Education Action Plan 2008-2010
Objectives:
1. To define pharmacy service competencies across all settings and levels of the health
system.
2. To set educational objectives aligned with competencies and develop a framework
that considers the entire pharmacy education continuum from undergraduate
education through to continuing professional development at the post-graduate level.
3. To develop a global framework for quality assurance and the development of
accreditation systems (e.g. development of standards for educational institutions and
programs) in pharmacy education.
4. To gather and analyse data on academic/faculty workforce, and review and develop
capacity development strategies that meet local, regional or global needs.
5. To guide stakeholders towards an accepted holistic vision for the entire continuum of
pharmacy education at global, regional and local levels.
6. To provide advocacy and technical guidance to country level stakeholders and
educational institutions.
7. To establish a global platform for ongoing dialogue, sharing of evidence, practices,
lessons learned, resources and tools for pharmacy education and workforce planning.
The domains for action prioritized in the Action Plan fall into three areas of focus that have been identified by stakeholders as fundamental to ensuring that true action is made and tangible goals are accomplished. Three Project teams have been established charged with the responsibility of efficient productivity in these areas which are:
• Academic Workforce and Institutional Infrastructure
• Quality Assurance
• Vision for Pharmacy Education and Competency
The aim is to undertake and act upon evidence-based research to establish frameworks, tools and guidance which stakeholders have requested would be useful from a global body to facilitate education development.
The FIP convenes a collection of stakeholders representing various global and regional networks with the goal of coordinating and catalysing actions to develop pharmacy education under the remit of the Pharmacy Education Taskforce. The Taskforce was established given the: