Ethics and professionalism in pharmacy

Ethics is the field of study concerned with what is morally right and wrong. Ethical questions are commonly encountered globally, in pharmacy education, pharmacy practice, and pharmaceutical science. These questions are often triggered by the introduction of new technologies, new medicines and new roles for pharmacists. Professionalism in pharmacy practice is the broader application of ethics in the professional practice of pharmacy. Pharmacy needs to advocate for ethics and professionalism in all contexts of pharmaceutical practice, science and education as they relate to the profession. The FIP Ethics Group began as an informal entity within FIP’s Board of Pharmaceutical Practice, formed alongside FIP’s initiatives on ethics and professionalism. The group first convened at the 2014 FIP Congress in Düsseldorf, offering advice on pharmacy ethics as needed. From 2014 to 2020, it regularly contributed to FIP congress programming through its representative on the FIP Programme Committee. In 2019, FIP established “ONE-FIP forums,” which were later modified to Advisory Groups in 2024. Discussions about formalising the Ethics Group led to the establishment of the FIP Ethics Advisory Group in 2024.

Mission and objectives

To provide expertise and advice to FIP on matters related to its scope, by bringing together health ethics experts from within FIP membership to exchange views on current activities (problem areas, best practice, emerging trends and questions on professional autonomy, etc.), establish new contacts, and work together on joint projects that add value and are aligned with the FIP Strategic Plan.

The main objectives of the FIP Ethics Advisory Group are:

• To provide ad-hoc technical expertise and advice on ethical matters to FIP and its members;
• To provide ad-hoc technical expertise and advice for FIP’s collaboration with partners, namely WHO, in ethics and professionalism in all contexts of pharmacy practice, education and the pharmaceutical sciences as they relate to the profession;
• To explore global initiatives and developments and the impact on the ethical responsibilities of pharmacists;
• To keep abreast of trends in pharmacy and their effects on professional autonomy of pharmacists;
• To provide guidance around Codes of Ethics for FIP member organisations and;
• To facilitate the gathering and sharing of best practices in education for FIP members on ethics.

Members

The advisory group in 2025 is co-chaired by Prof. Betty Chaar, University of Sydney (Australia) and Mr Luís Lourenço, FIP Professional Secretary (Portugal) as the Bureau Liaison officer.

The members of the group include:

• Prof. Cicely Roche (Ireland)
• Dr Jack Collins (Australia)
• Dr Carl Schneider (Australia)
• Dr Sally Arif (United States)
• Dr Arijana Meštrovic (Croatia)
• Dr Sanya Ram (New Zealand)
• Dr Leen Fino (Jordan)
• Prof. Dusanka Krajnovic (Serbia)
• Dr Jessica Pace (Australia)
• Dr Maria Allinson (United Kingdom)
• Dr Mara Guerreiro (Portugal)
• Dr Elijah Mohammed (Nigeria)
• Prof. Cicely Roche (Ireland)

Would you like to join the group? Anyone interested in pharmacy ethics is welcome! But it is expected that every member of the FIP Ethics Advisory Group should be an individual member of FIP in order to serve on the Advisory Group. Find more information about FIP membership and further member benefits here.

Activities and resources

Useful resources developed by the group include:

CPD bites on ethics in pharmacy practice

The objective of these short videos is to deliver a series of continuing professional development (CPD) bites for pharmacists, to raise awareness and increase knowledge on professional ethics in pharmacy. These CPD bites provide real life examples in role played scenarios with analyses and advice on how to uphold ethical principles and provide quality patient and professional services in challenging situations. Please visit the link here to watch these CPD bites.

FIP statement of professional standards: Codes of ethics for pharmacists

FIP’s statement of professional standards relates to codes of ethics for pharmacists is intended to reaffirm and state publicly the obligations that form the basis of the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists. These obligations, based on established ethical principles, are provided to enable national associations and regulators of pharmaceutical practitioners, through their individual codes of ethics, to guide pharmacists in their relationships with patients and carers, and with other health professionals and society generally. They should also guide individual pharmacists in their daily practice of the profession. Available here.

Further resources include:

• Oath / promise of a Pharmacist
• FIP Reference Document: Pharmacist Ethics and Professional Autonomy: Imperatives for Keeping Pharmacy Aligned with the Public Interest
• Webinar discussing ethical consideration of access to vaccines titled “Breaking Barriers: Ensuring Equitable Access to Mpox Vaccines”

Upcoming events

The FIP Ethics Advisory Group is organising a session relevant to ethics at the FIP World Congress on Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Copenhagen, Denmark, which will be held from 31 August to 3 September 2025. The session entitled “The ethics of pharmacist prescribing: An examination of responsibilities involved in expanded practice” seeks to explore prescribing in pharmacy from a practitioner’s perspective and understand how to build trust within a community in pharmacy professional services.

Contact: Please contact Ms Paula Cohen for more information about the Advisory Group at paula@fip.org.