Cape Town • 2 September 2024
To achieve a fully person-centred and service-oriented pharmacy practice model, it is essential to define pharmacies as healthcare facilities, to designate pharmacists as healthcare providers, and to provide enabling legislative and regulatory frameworks, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) said in a Holding Statement published today.
Professional and person-centred community pharmacies are essential for functional and efficient health systems. Governments should not only uphold this model of community pharmacy, but also leverage community pharmacies for the provision of integrated primary healthcare, thus reducing pressure on general practice teams and emergency departments, and making better use of the limited health workforce and other resources, FIP says.
“In many parts of the world, regulations and legislative frameworks related to pharmacy practice are well-established but not consistently implemented and subsequently enforced. It is vital to emphasise the need for rigorous enforcement of these regulations to ensure high standards of practice and effective collaboration among pharmacists. This statement from FIP makes clear that, in all countries, legislation that defines and underpins how community pharmacies operate — be it workforce, functional requirements, supervision and the services provided to the community — is a crucial element of health policy that must respond to the healthcare needs of populations.” said Mr Brett Simmonds, chair, FIP Regulators Advisory Group.
“Around the world, pharmacy practice is evolving towards a range of person-centred primary healthcare services, including prevention, screening and management of chronic non-communicable diseases and vaccination. A robust body of evidence shows that such services provide significant value to individuals, other healthcare professionals, health systems, and society as a whole,” said Mr Sherif Guorgui, president of FIP’s Community Pharmacy Section.
Mr Guorgui added: “Establishing and enforcing regulations and a legislative framework is crucial, but a supportive ecosystem is also essential for sustainable pharmacy practice and operation.”
The statement, recently supported by the FIP Council, also makes clear that it is equally important to define and set in place the funding mechanisms that render the provision of pharmacy services equitable and sustainable. It makes a number of recommendations to support a service-oriented practice model. To ensure that pharmacies are recognised and function as health facilities, governments must pay “close and deep attention” to pharmacy practice and support the development of a healthier pharmacy practice environment, the federation says.
A FIP Holding Statement is an initial statement about an issue or issues pending further evidence and about which FIP intends to make a further statement. Read the full statement here.
Notes for editors
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 153 member organisations, it represents over four million practitioners and scientists around the world. www.fip.org
PRESS CONTACT
Ms Lin-Nam Wang
Head of Communications and Advocacy
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
Email Linnam@fip.org