In efforts to strengthen Asian health systems against the threat posed by vaccine-preventable diseases, the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations (FAPA), together with the Pharmaceutical Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage (PAT), hosted the 2019 FAPA Leaders Forum last October 19, 2019 at the Ambassador Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand to discuss the role of pharmacists in promoting immunization in Asia. The forum was able to gather participants from Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Macao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand, with a total of 16 countries and territories from the western Pacific, eastern Mediterranean and southeast Asian regions represented during the forum.

The whole day event consisted of four sessions aiming to promote high-yield learning exchange to equip pharmacy leaders with skills and insights to further strengthen their immunization-related initiatives in each of their areas of influence. Leading experts from various areas of pharmacy practice shared their recommendations for pharmacists to reinforce and enable implementation of immunization programs. Each session was also enhanced by workshop activities to generate insights on the best strategies to mobilize pharmacists in this advocacy.  During these workshops, pharmacist concerns on promoting vaccination from policy, training, education, communication, and supply chain management, among others, were recognized. Implementation strategies to develop pharmacovigilance and pharmacist-led immunization programs were also discussed and stakeholders with whom pharmacists can collaborate were also identified.

With the fruitful discussions during the forum, FAPA remains true to its target of helping prevent antimicrobial resistance and the unnecessary use of antibiotics by reducing the risk of infections through the promotion of immunization and empowering pharmacists to take up their role in strengthening immunization systems.

Author: fapa_admin