Pharmacists and pharmacy staff faced extraordinary pressure during the COVID pandemic, with some losing their lives, highlighting the importance of ensuring workplace safety and mental health support.
The expansion of scope for pharmacists during COVID has highlighted the potential for community pharmacists to deliver further professional services, adding value to the pharmacy space.
With this in mind, as well as pharmacy development goals aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, there has now been change in the global federation representing 4 million pharmacists across over 100 countries, with the election and appointment of an Australian pharmacist as President.
In late 2023, Paul Sinclair, was elected as the President of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the first Australian to hold the position. In accordance with the FIP Statutes, president-elect Paul Sinclair has commenced performing the duties of president following the unexpected passing of his predecessor Dominique Jordan in Switzerland.
Mr Sinclair, a community pharmacist and former community pharmacy proprietor, has served on FIP for a number of years, including as president of its Community Pharmacy Section (2014–18) and chair of FIP’s Board of Pharmaceutical Practice since 2018.
Paul Sinclair’s extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including his roles as President of the International Pharmaceutical Federation and chair of the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacists, highlights his deep knowledge and expertise in the field.
His appointment will be ratified at the 81ST FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences being held in Brisbane, Australia from 24 to 28 September 2023.
The Congress theme is “Pharmacy building a sustainable future for healthcare – Aligning goals to 2030”. Paul spoke with Mike Lesner, host of Global Health Talks on the themes for the Congress, the reach of the Federation and the common and unique challenges facing the pharmacy industry across the globe.
About the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is the global body for pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences and pharmaceutical education. Through 152 national organisations, academic institutional members and individual members, FIP represents over four million pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists and pharmaceutical educators around the world.
Founded in 1912, FIP is a non-governmental organisation with its head office in the Netherlands. Through partnerships and extensive pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences network, FIP works to support the development of the pharmacy profession, through practice and emerging scientific innovations, and through developing the pharmacy workforce in order to meet the world’s health care needs and expectations.
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Technology to reach global health equity
Dr Terry Knapp, MD as a plastic and reconstructive plastic surgeon, has given back to medicine and global health through over 35 overseas trips as a volunteer surgeon. He is also an inventor with 16 medical device and technology patents to his name. His entrepreneurial spirit has led to founding 6 successful companies, leading to today being the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of CareSpan Health.
Health equity, in technology driven health care delivery, is determined by access to the clinician, specifically communications medical technology. CareSpan Health developed an integrated digital care ecosystem. The architecture of which became, Clinic in the Cloud.
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Clinical research and trials in Australia and New Zealand
Clinical research and trials in the Australia and New Zealand region offer foreign companies an opportunity to collaborate with local institutions, tap into diverse patient populations, access high-quality healthcare infrastructure, and gain regulatory approvals, enabling them to expand their market reach and accelerate the development of innovative medical interventions.
Clinical trials continued in Australia and New Zealand during lockdown, thanks to collaboration between industry and government, allowing the region to attract trials from other countries.
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Australia’s digital health push into new national markets
Infection rates following surgical procedure vary across countries, however the causes and the ranges of variation are not well understood.
The causes of the infections are not as high as would be assumed on the surgical procedure, but co-morbidity and lifestyle choices including alcohol consumption may exacerbate risk. As Dr Edmiston states, there are a myriad of causes, and funding is limited in many countries. However there are some solutions, where goals, performance tracking against the goals and better communication is needed.
