Brisbane • 24 September 2023
- Pharmacy initiative to combat domestic violence wins best health promotion campaign award
- Online simulator for students to practise dispensing skills receives pharmaceutical education award
- Highest honour for pharmacy educators goes to Michael Rouse
- Fifteen more pharmacy professionals recognised for excellence
Pharmacy initiative to combat domestic violence wins best health promotion campaign award
A pharmacy initiative in Ireland to support victims of domestic abuse and coercive control was announced as the winner of the International Pharmaceutical Federation’s (FIP’s) 2023 Health Promotion Campaign Award today. It is estimated that one in four women in Ireland who have been in a relationship have been abused by a current or former partner.1 Domestic abuse victims may have difficulty making contact safely with the support they need, as their movements and access to phones may be monitored and limited so the goal of the “Safe Pharmacy” initiative is to provide a safe space to access support services. The campaign is led by the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) in partnership with An Garda Síochána ( the Irish police service), the Health Service Executive and the charity “Safe Ireland”.
Trained staff in pharmacies taking part in the initiative offer a private consultation room and telephone access so that the victims can make contact with a support service of their choice. These pharmacies also raise awareness of the campaign and maintain an accurate and up-to-date list of local support services. Since its launch through a public awareness campaign in July 2022, over 1,087 pharmacies — 59% of community pharmacies in Ireland — have signed up to the initiative and voluntarily registered as a Safe Pharmacy.
“A key strength of this initiative has been the development of strong cross-sectoral partnerships and this award is the recognition that such an approach is both important and effective. We are proud that so many pharmacies have chosen to participate in this national initiative and, most importantly, we are proud that many people have now taken that important first step towards accessing help because of Safe Pharmacy,” said Dermot Twomey, IPU president.
Virtual pharmacy platform receives pharmaceutical education award
FIP’s 2023 Pharmaceutical Education Organisational Award went to Monash University, Australia, for its development of “MyDispense”. This is a free online simulation that helps provide a safe environment for pharmacy students to hone their dispensing skills.
Unsafe medication practices and medication errors are leading causes of injury and avoidable harm in healthcare systems across the world, according to the World Health Organization. The goal of MyDispense is to help pharmacy schools link theoretical training with the mastery of practical skills. With MyDispense, students can practise their dispensing skills and receive instant and tailored feedback. For example, students can see virtual representations of patients, prescriptions, medicines, dispensary labels and note-taking tools. There are also web links to legally required pharmacy references, and educators can utilise over 4,172 medicines that can be prescribed to 1,659 virtual patients.
Since its launch in 2010, the program has been shared at no cost with 242 institutions across 42 countries. As of July 2023, more than 55,000 students have logged in over 742,300 times to complete nearly two million exercises.
“It’s been wonderful to engage with pharmacy educators across the globe as we continue to build the MyDispense community. What makes MyDispense unique is the way it ensures equity of education access for everyone — from students of resource-poor pharmacy schools in low- and middle-income countries, through the Ivy Leagues,” said Marian Costelloe, manager of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Monash University.
Highest honour for pharmacy educators goes to Michael Rouse
Michael J. A. Rouse (USA) was recognised today with FIP’s highest honour for pharmacy educators: the Exceptional Award in Pharmaceutical Education. Mr Rouse currently works as assistant executive director and director of international services at the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the US national accrediting body for pharmacy education. He is widely recognised for his contributions to the areas of continuing professional development (CPD) in pharmacy, and quality assurance and accreditation of pharmacy education. Among these are: leading the development of the ACPE’s guidance on CPD in pharmacy; authoring FIP’s Global Framework for Quality Assurance of Pharmacy Education (the first ever framework addressing pharmaceutical education quality on a global level); a project that led to a FIP manual to implement good pharmacy practice in developing countries; leading initiatives to introduce and implement lifelong learning in several countries; and authoring a White Paper on the vision for pharmacy technicians as an integral part of the profession of pharmacy. Mr Rouse is a past president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe and the National Pharmaceutical Council of Zimbabwe.
"I am extremely honoured to be the recipient of FIP's inaugural award for pharmacy educators, and want to thank FIP and all those who supported my nomination. This award signifies FIP's expanded commitment to advancing pharmaceutical education globally and the role that educators have in supporting and achieving FIP's mission to advance pharmacy worldwide," Mr Rouse said.
Fifteen more pharmacy professionals recognised for excellence
The FIP 2023 award ceremony, held at the opening of the 81st World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brisbane, Australia, saw 15 other pharmacy professionals from 12 countries receive global awards as follows:
- FIP Olivier Bugnon Award (mid-career, pharmacy practice): Dr Shellyza Sajwani (Canada)
- Early Career in Pharmaceutical Science Recognition Award: Dr Chun-Wai Mai (Malaysia)
- Joseph A. Oddis Award for Exceptional Service to FIP: Ms Ema Paulino (Portugal)
- FIP Fellowships —
Dr Waël E. Abi-Ghanem (Lebanon)
Prof. Rula M. Darwish (Jordan)
Dr Josep M. Guiu Segura (Spain)
Ms Tara Hehir (Australia)
Prof. Dai John (UK)
Prof. Aukje Mantel-Teeuwisse (The Netherlands)
Dr Thomas E. Menighan (USA)
Dr Didier Mouliom Ngambe (Cameroon)
Dr Joseph Nicolazzo (Australia)
Prof. Giovanni Pauletti (USA)
Ms Samira Shammas Goussous (Jordan)
Ms Mary Wang (China Taiwan)
Reference
- European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Violence against women: An EU-wide survey. Main results. [Internet]. 2014. Available at: https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2014/violence-against-women-eu-wide-survey-main-results-report#publication-tab-0 [accessed: 11 September 2023].
Notes for editors
IMAGES Will be available after the opening ceremony on Sunday 24 September at: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAUCuH
About FIP The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is the global federation of national associations of pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists and pharmacy educators, and is in official relations with the World Health Organization. Through its 156 member organisations, it represents over four million practitioners and scientists around the world. www.fip.org
FIP believes it is of utmost importance to support and recognise individuals who, through their vision and commitment to their profession, are making outstanding contributions to pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences, serving as examples for others. Each year it honours those who have demonstrated commendable work and dedication in areas which parallel its overall mission of advancing pharmacy practice, science and education for the betterment of global health.
About the Health Promotion Campaign Award: This award recognises a health promotion campaign developed and run by an FIP member organisation (or one of its chapters). The award is presented each year.
About the Pharmaceutical Education Organisational Award: The purpose of the award is to recognise an educational programme or innovation that promotes excellence in learning and teaching in any discipline of pharmacy. The award is presented biennially.
About the Exceptional Award in Pharmaceutical Education: The purpose of this award is to recognise an outstanding educator who has made significant and outstanding contributions to the diverse field of pharmaceutical education, and contributions which have had impacts on policy, practice and research related to education at an international level. The award is granted every three years.
About the FIP Olivier Bugnon Award: The purpose of this award is to recognise an outstanding pharmacist, who has made significant contributions to pharmacy within their field of practice at an international level. The award is granted every three years.
About the Early Career in Pharmaceutical Science Recognition Award: The purpose of the award is to recognise an educational programme or innovation that promotes excellence in learning and teaching in any discipline of pharmacy. The award is presented biennially.
About the Joseph A. Oddis Award for Exceptional Service to FIP: The purpose of the Joseph A. Oddis award is to recognise officers of FIP and individuals who have rendered exceptional and distinguished service to FIP. Dr Joseph A. Oddis was FIP president from 1986 to 1990. He was also CEO of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists for almost 40 years.
About FIP Fellowships: An FIP Fellowship recognises individual members of FIP who have exhibited strong leadership internationally, who have distinguished themselves in pharmacy practice or the pharmaceutical sciences, who have contributed to the advancement of the practice of pharmacy or pharmaceutical sciences, and who have served FIP. FIP Fellows may use the designation “FFIP”.
About the World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences: FIP’s 81st annual World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is being held in Brisbane, Australia, from 24 to 28 September under the theme “Pharmacy building a sustainable future for healthcare – Aligning goals to 2030”. Some 1,800 pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists and pharmacy educators from 90 countries are in attendance.
PRESS CONTACT
Ms Marina Llibre Martín
Communications Coordinator
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
Email marina@fip.org
Tel +31 70 302 1977