Dear Fellow Pharmacists,

Today the international community celebrates the 10th World Pharmacist’s Day held every 25th of September. This year’s theme “Transforming Global Health” aims to show how pharmacists contribute to a world where everyone benefits from the access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and health technologies, as well as from pharmaceutical
care services.

Throughout the years, FAPA has initiated a number of programs and projects addressing several global health issues using systems approach through the pharmacy profession.

In 2011, the International Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) training program was initiated and hosted by the FAPA Foundation and continues to this day. This training focuses on equipping pharmacists with important principles and skills to lead in the implementation of GPP programs in their own countries and practice settings.

In 2015, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) awareness campaigns and leaders’ summit were held to encourage FAPA member associations and pharmacists to take up the role as stewards in promoting the rational use of antimicrobials.

In 2016, FAPA held its first pre-congress forum and workshop to develop a unified statement on the pharmacist’s role in combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and encourage member associations to develop their own cost-effective programs in health promotion, risk assessment, and interventions in addition to committing their support to contribute significantly to the attainment of the global goals on NCDs.

In 2017, FAPA held a stakeholder’s meeting in promoting medication safety through a systems approach. The event focused on separation of dispensing and prescribing practices (SDP) where best practices and evidences of success from countries that have implemented this initiative were shared to support other Asian countries that are still facing this challenge.

In 2018, FAPA held a pre-congress workshop on the role of pharmacists in disaster management, inviting experienced pharmacists from all over the world in handling crises brought about by natural disasters. Disasters are considered as one of the biggest challenges to pharmaceutical systems due to the susceptibility of many Asian countries to various kinds of natural calamities.

In 2019, FAPA focused on promoting immunization in Asia, by gathering leaders from FAPA member associations in a forum that aims to increase the coverage of the immunization programs by tackling issues related to vaccine development, manufacturing and distribution, regulation, service delivery, capacity building, and patient education using a systems approach and identifying all the stakeholders that pharmacy organizations can work with to achieve this goal.

The year 2020, was the dawn of a global pandemic that has affected all aspects of life of millions around the world and challenged the resilience of pharmaceutical systems and the pharmacy profession. FAPA immediately acted to provide frontline Asian pharmacists in community and hospital settings with guidance documents and webinars on how to address the most important concerns including infection-prevention and control for the pharmacy workforce, patient navigation, patient education, and shortage of medical products and supplies. Pharmacy education, which was also severely impacted by movement restrictions, was also addressed through a webinar that shared best practices and issues to help secure the education and supply of future pharmacists.

This year’s World Pharmacist’s Day Theme is very timely to recognize the important role that pharmacists play in transforming global health. Now and in the future, FAPA will continue to dedicate its efforts in providing platforms for discussion, technical support for capacity building and networks for pharmacy leaders and organizations to carry out their mission to improve access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicine and health technologies, as well as/from pharmaceutical care services.

The biggest challenges in global health, such as this current COVID-19 pandemic, have clearly exposed the necessity of a high-quality pharmacy workforce and resilient pharmaceutical systems in order for health systems to function. It is up to us pharmacists in all areas of practice to stand up and provide concrete solutions to the various needs of governments, other health professions and the public during this crisis. We also call on our member associations to strategically view the situation as a great opportunity to demonstrate and document how the profession can transform global health in each respective country.

To all of us, Happy World Pharmacists Day!

Mohamad Dani Pratomo
President
Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations

Author: Katrina Herrera