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25 October 2019 

Pharmacy leaders from across the European Region commit to delivering primary health care for all

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Today, on the first anniversary of the Global Conference on Primary Health Care in Astana, Kazakstan, where governments committed to strengthening primary health care as a cornerstone of a sustainable health system and universal health coverage, pharmacy leaders and pharmacists representing 37 countries in the European Region have made a commitment to deliver better primary health care through pharmacy. These representatives of the profession are gathered in Ankara, Turkey, at the International Pharmaceutical Federation’s (FIP’s) second regional conference. 

Among the actions to which they have committed are: transforming the pharmacy workforce to provide better primary healthcare services; scaling up pharmacy education; and continuing to address the burden of non-communicable diseases by empowering pharmacists in health promotion and disease prevention, screening, referral, disease management and treatment optimisation. The Ankara Commitment to Action also highlights expanding vaccination coverage (including a role in eliminating public misconceptions about vaccines) and tackling the challenges of antimicrobial resistance through antimicrobial stewardship.

“FIP was at the global conference in Astana, where we contributed to the historic Declaration of Astana. It is clear that pharmacists, who practise at the hearts of communities, are a huge resource for improving primary health care. We must work together to position pharmacists as a key primary health care provider and expand on our services,” said FIP President Mr Dominique Jordan.

He added: “FIP is proud to be leading on this agenda to encourage action from our profession towards health for all. Action must happen in order to prove to governments, policymakers and the people that working with pharmacists makes them win. We have to show them that our actions are pragmatic, concrete and problem-solving, otherwise we will be left behind.”

FIP’s conference in Ankara follows its regional conference in Amman, Jordan, in April 2019, where the pharmacy profession in the Eastern Mediterranean was the first to unite and commit to action on primary health care. “The implementation of concrete projects bringing a benefit for the people can only happen on a national or regional level, and according to the region’s needs. This is why this series of regional conferences is so important,” Mr Jordan said. Further regional conferences are being planned for 2020.

Last update 15 May 2019

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