A new programme designed to advance pharmaceutical workforces in countries around the world was launched by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) today. The development of an adaptable, flexible and competent pharmaceutical workforce is key to achieving access to quality essential health services, and safe and effective medicines and vaccines, which, in turn, are fundamental requirements of universal health coverage.

“Investing in the pharmaceutical workforce contributes towards strengthening health systems and achieving universal health coverage by 2030, as outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Our vision is for every country to have a national strategy and action plan for pharmaceutical workforce development,” said Professor Ian Bates, director of FIP’s Workforce Development Hub.

FIP’s new Workforce Transformation Programme (WTP) is a practical and flexible model, which will: assist countries in assessing their individual pharmacy workforce needs and priorities; support them to develop needs-based national workforce strategies and infrastructure; and provide co-created solutions, tools, mechanisms and resources for implementation. FIP’s member organisation the Jordan Pharmacists Association (JPA) is the first national pharmacy leadership body to join the programme, signing up today in Amman, Jordan.

“As the capacity of the Jordanian pharmacy workforce continues to increase and demand for quality health care rises to meet complex medicines and diseases, advancing the role of the pharmacists to ensure relevance and capability becomes more important than ever. The FIP WTP offers concrete solutions for proper planning and development of our national workforce,” said Mr Zeid Al Kilani, President, Jordan Pharmacists Association.

FIP CEO Dr Catherine Duggan said: “FIP believes that the pharmaceutical workforce around the world requires a global vision with clear and consensus-based objectives consistent with global health strategies. FIP’s Workforce Transformation Programme offers a realistic and achievable framework for real transformation. We congratulate the JPA on being the first of our members to join and look forward to stimulating and supporting progress in other countries.”