International Pharmaceutical Federation

The International Pharmaceutical Federation or Fédération Internationale Pharmaceutique, abbreviated as FIP, is an international federation of national organisations that represent pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. It was founded in 1912 and is based in The Hague in the Netherlands. [http://www.fip.org]

FIP

Founded in 1912, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is the global federation of national associations of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). Through its 120 Member Organisations, FIP represents and serves almost two million practitioners and scientists around the world.

Over the years, FIP’s priorities have shifted in both focus and content to meet the needs and expectations of the profession, in expanding healthcare services and harmonising emerging scientific developments. At the time of its inception in 1912, the Federation was primarily focused on the pharmaceutical sciences. FIP executed its Mission through Congresses and events mainly through the gatherings of European participants and leaders.

Through its almost 100 year history, FIP has expanded both literally and figuratively. Changes in pharmacy and the emergence of Pharmacy Practice as a cornerstone of the profession have lead FIP to become globally visible for its advocacy on the role of the pharmacist in the provision of healthcare, while still maintaining its grounding in the pharmaceutical sciences. In addition to its Congresses, FIP Membership has evolved to become the most extensive global pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences network and continues to expand its presence worldwide. The Federation’s growing perspective has led to its expansion and development of influential partnerships with some of the world’s leading healthcare, educational and scientific institutions.

FIP has a constant motivation to build upon several significant accomplishments of the past several years, the most significant of which is the increased awareness and reputation of both FIP and the role of the pharmacist. This has resulted from the work FIP has done internally and through mutually beneficial partnerships with key global players, such as, the World Health Organization (WHO). The creation of the FIP Regional Pharmaceutical Forums has increased the relationship with the Member Organisations in the WHO Regional and Country Offices, and as such has promoted the role of pharmacists in the WHO healthcare agenda. In addition, as a founding partner of the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA), FIP has played a role in bringing together pharmacists, nurses, physicians and dentists in initiatives that focus on the mutual needs of each health profession while recognizing the unique values and contributions that each profession brings to patient care. Looking ahead, FIP is focused on further cultivating these current partnerships and initiating new opportunities with other global stakeholders.

FIP’s goal of increasing the status of the pharmacist is supported by the success of past and ongoing initiatives. The WHO-FIP Good Pharmacy Practice pilot projects implemented in Thailand and Uruguay in 2005, reported not only measurable success, but tangible changes in pharmacy practice, leading to better patient care. FIP’s work in the fight against counterfeit medicines is evident in its contribution to the WHO IMPACT working groups and meetings. FIP’s contributions in the development of Multisource Pharmaceutical Products: WHO Guidelines on Registration Requirements, has been duly acknowledged by WHO.

FIP has also been successful with the Pharmaceutical Sciences World Congresses, which have served as global platforms for the exchange of information related to the pharmaceutical sciences. The parallel development of numerous FIP initiatives within pharmacy practice and the pharmaceutical sciences have demonstrated that the Federation is able to grow with concurrent streams of interest without losing ground. This has exceptionally promising implications for the growth of new branches of FIP in areas, such as, pharmacy education and the human resources for health. FIP consists of two Boards, the Board of Pharmaceutical Practice and the Board of Pharmaceutical Science

Board of Pharmaceutical Practice

The FIP Board of Pharmaceutical Practice, which embodies pharmacists, has nine sections, each focusing on specific areas of pharmacy, developing and enhancing professional practice through shared experience. The Sections represent the following areas of pharmacy practice:

"Academic Pharmacy
"Administrative Pharmacy"
"Clinical Biology"
"Community Pharmacy"
"Hospital Pharmacy"
"Industrial Pharmacy"
"Laboratories and Medicines Control Services"
"Military and Emergency Pharmacy"
"Pharmacy Information"

Mission Statement
The Board of Pharmaceutical Practice represents the interests of all aspects of the practice of the profession of pharmacy throughout the whole world, regardless of any national or local issues.

The development of the profession in all its many facets will be encouraged.

Good communication between pharmaceutical practitioners, pharmaceutical scientists and other healthcare providers will be strongly promoted. The ultimate objective of this aim will be to unify the profession and, as a result, bring about an increase in the standards of healthcare for the benefit of the patient.

The Board of Pharmaceutical Practice, with these ends in mind, will thus endeavour to:

Raise professional standards.
Develop policy relating to the safe and effective use of medicines.
Develop and expand continuing education.
Encourage research into all fields of pharmaceutical practice.
Recognise and reward excellence in pharmaceutical practice.
Expand the influence and role of the pharmacist.
Increase, strengthen and expand the functions of the various Sections of FIP.
Increase the membership, influence the activities of FIP on a world wide basis.

Board of Pharmaceutical Science

The Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences is in place within FIP to provide a forum for pharmaceutical scientists to communicate, network, and further develop their expertise and knowledge in their areas of interest. This is accomplished through member participation in Special Interest Groups that focus on specific aspects of pharmaceutical science and research. Targeted specifically to this group is the Pharmaceutical Sciences World Congress, which is held every 4 years in a different location around the world, and the next being in New Orleans, USA in 2010.

Special Interest Groups have been formed on the following areas:

"Bioavailability and Bioequivalence"
"Biopharmaceutics Classification System"
"Dissolution"
"Individualized Medicine"
"Natural Substances"
"Pharmaceutical Biotechnology"
"Pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacoeconomics"
"Radiologic and Nuclear Pharmacy"
"Medicinal Chemistry"

Role of Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences
The role of this Board is to handle all scientific aspects of FIP's activities. To fulfill this task the BPS has developed a Strategic plan with a clear mission, namely to establish and maintain itself as the leading forum for representation of pharmaceutical science throughout the world. The main approaches to accomplish this mission are:

Coordinating the advancement for the pharmaceutical sciences world-wide by providing a global network for national and Supranational organizations representing pharmaceutical sciences;
Providing an international platform for interactions amongst pharmaceutical scientists;
Contribution to public policy issues related to pharmaceutical research - eg. gene products, biologicals, drugs: their Discovery, development, production, regulation and rational use;
Fostering the career development of pharmaceutical scientists;
Identifying and nurturing emerging areas of science in the pharmaceutical sciences;
Enhancing recognition of the achievements of pharmaceutical scientists;
Interacting with organizations of health care providers to strengthen their scientific base;
Encourage high quality in pharmaceutical sciences;
Assisting in advancing the pharmaceutical sciences in developing countries;
Sponsoring international symposia, conferences and training programs for pharmaceutical scientists;
Liaising with governmental authorities to establish and to increase financial support or research and development in Pharmaceutical sciences.

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The FIP Congress - The World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Every year, FIP organises the World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, where thousands of pharmacists meet, learn, share and exchange views. Lectures, plenary sessions, poster exhibitions and section programmes, together with Council meetings and the Leadership Conference make this event the premier international event in pharmacy each year. The social side - finding new friends and greeting old ones - complements the varied Congress programme. The annual Congress also serves the Young Pharmacists Group with specially planned sessions and workshops focussed on current issues facing this unique segment of the profession.

FIP CONGRESS 2008 - BASEL, SWITZERLAND

"Reengineering Pharmacy Practice in a Changing World at the 68th FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences" [http://www.fip.org/basel2008]

Under the theme of Reengineering Pharmacy Practice in a Changing World FIP and the Swiss Association of Pharmacists - pharmaSuisse will be hosting the 68th World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Basel, Switzerland. There will be a special programme for first time Congress participants.

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The FIP Foundation for Education and Research

The Foundation's objectives are to promote the education of, and research by pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists within the general fields of design, manufacture, distribution and use of medicines for humans and/or animals. In order to achieve its objectives the Foundation may undertake any of the following activities:

The making of awards in recognition of excellence;
The making of grants to support education or research;
The granting of Fellowships to permit a period of research at an approved institution;
The awarding of Scholarships to permit short periods of international travel in order to study the practice of pharmacy or pharmaceutical science in another country or in other countries;
All other charitable activities which do not conflict with the aforementioned objectives or the general objectives of the International Pharmaceutical Federation/Fédération Internationale Pharmaceutique (FIP).

The FIP Foundation for Education and Research was set up in 1993 with a programme of grants and awards. In addition to the Awards in Recognition of Excellence, the FIP Foundation also makes available FIP Development Grants to young pharmacists in training or research, FIP International Travel Scholarships and FIP Fellowships. In 1997 it introduced the Young Poster Presenter's Awards, which are given to a number of people who have submitted abstracts for the FIP Congress, which have been screened and approved by either the scientific or professional secretary. Donations and other forms of sponsorship are an essential ingredient to the success of the Awards programme and to the FIP Foundation and has set up a FIP Foundation Supporter's Club. It has developed a series of benefit, both individual and corporate, which will attract potential donors/sponsors. There are six categories - Ribbon, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond.

You can read details of the Foundations work in our Annual Reports, which are available upon request from the FIP Foundation.

ee also

*List of pharmacy associations
*Pharmacy
*Pharmacist
*Pharmaconomist

*List of pharmacy schools

External links

* [http://www.fip.org FIP website]