Pharmacy-based point-of-care testing brings health and economic benefits according to a new Statement of Policy released by FIP today.

A broad range of point-of-care tests can be performed in pharmacies, from screening for diseases (e.g., COVID-19, HIV) to monitoring chronic disease indicators (e.g., testing for cholesterol or blood glucose levels). In the new statement, the federation calls for pharmacy testing services to be incorporated into publicly funded and insurance-funded health care as well as being available for purchase by individuals, and for pharmacists to have read-and-write access to electronic health records so that tests results can be shared across the healthcare team. “The World Health Organization has said that when point-of-care tests are adequately performed, they improve quality of care. With this policy statement, FIP is leading on point-of-care testing in pharmacy settings as a way to strengthen health systems around the world. This is particularly important in low- and middle-income countries to ensure affordable access to health services. It is crucial for pharmacy professionals to be included in national and local strategies and I encourage all stakeholders to read the statement,” said Julien Fonsart, co-chair of the Policy Committee on Point-of-Care Testing.