Two new resources to help pharmacists provide services to people with chronic respiratory diseases (namely asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) have been published by FIP today. These are:

• “Chronic respiratory diseases — A handbook for pharmacists”; and
• “Knowledge and skills reference guide for professional development in chronic respiratory diseases”.

The handbook, authored by an international group of experts brought together by FIP (including representatives from the International Primary Care Respiratory Group and the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy), contains chapters on prevention and control of chronic respiratory diseases, screening, interprofessional working, non-pharmacological management, pharmacological management (including medicines optimisation) and palliative care. The new publication also presents metrics for services for chronic respiratory diseases and barriers to the implementation of these services, and explores ethical considerations and practice-based research related to this disease area. The reference guide accompanying the handbook and defines the knowledge and skills that pharmacists need to acquire to provide services for chronic respiratory diseases.