User's blog

Author: Joyce Alvarez

  • Joining in the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

    Antimicrobial Resistance is a growing threat in many Asian countries and one of the major factors considered in this issue is the rational use of antimicrobials. Member associations of FAPA are called to encourage the Pharmacists in their respective countries to take an active stance and join other stakeholders to mitigate this problem.

    2015 FAPA Leaders’ Meeting on the Fight against AMR

    FAPA, with its eighteen (18) member associations, have committed to act on the increasingly alarming threat of AMR during the FAPA Leaders’ Meeting held on 12 September 2015, in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Philippines. The discussion among the presidents and representatives of pharmaceutical associations (from India, Nepal, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Macao, Philippines, South Korea, Cambodia and Vietnam) centered on future actions that are aligned to support the Global Action Plan on AMR, which was approved in the 68th World Health Assembly in May 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland.

     

    The meeting included a workshop where member associations identified key activities where their organizations can lead in relation to the five (5) Strategic Objectives in the Global Action Plan. Emphasizing the role of pharmacists in
    combatting AMR, the agreements in the group discussions include public, community, and individual interventions using intersectoral approach.

  • Leading the Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) Movement in Asia

    Many Asian pharmacists wish to practice pharmacy at a level that is able to provide the best quality of care to their patients. Having trust and mutual respect within the healthcare team, while fulfilling their mandate as pharmacists is also the goal that many pharmacists wish to experience. Unfortunately, there are many existing barriers for this to be attained due to a variety of reasons. One particular concern is the lack of technical knowledge, skills and leadership support in the workplace in order to improve pharmacy practice. Working models of GPP exist in different countries especially in developed ones. However, these models are often already operating on advanced levels that may not be easily achieved by others due to applicability issues in different environments and cultures.
    Such is the case in many developing countries in Asia. Therefore, FAPA with the full support of FAPA foundation, has focused on gathering pharmacists from various Asian countries for training programs where they can learn how the existing GPP models were developed, and develop a program of their own in their respective countries and workplaces.

    With the aim of strengthening international collaboration and sharing of experiences in pursuing a higher standard of quality pharmaceutical services for the Asian people, FAPA foundation established a unique international GPP Training program for Pharmacists.

    GPP training in Taiwan in partnership with TVGH

    Now on its seventh (7 th) year, the partnership between FAPA foundation and Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) has continued to develop new GPP champions in different Asian countries. In the early part of the program, it included a classroom-based training course followed by an onsite visit to the hospital to gain insight and ask questions about how the hospital and clinical pharmacy services were improved. The program caters to FAPA foundation scholars, young pharmacists, other paid participants and pharmacy students as well. Through the years, there have been different partners in the organization of the program but sustainability is made possible through the continuous collaboration between different organizations that include: FAPA foundation, the FAPA hospital and clinical pharmacy section, TVGH, Taiwan Young Pharmacists Group (TYPG) and the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF).

    Travel grant scholarships

    Since 2012, FAPA foundation has received over 150 scholarship applications and have awarded ninety-two (92) travel grants for pharmacists from thirteen (13) different Asian countries.

    The travel grant equivalent to an amount of USD 1,000 for each participant includes the reimbursement of each participant’s round-trip airfare and allocated for their accommodations, meals and other expenses incurred during the program. After the training program, awardees are expected to submit a report and suggest ways to explore future international collaboration for implementation of a program in their country. These suggestions are considered by FAPA foundation for future implementation.

    Online GPP course

    In 2018, the International GPP training program coursework is set to be fully conducted on-line. The training modules were developed by FAPA Foundation in collaboration with the Taipei Medical University and Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Experts from the Taipei Veterans General Hospital and Taipei Medical University recorded online modules containing videos on different levels of Good Pharmacy Practice and are accessible to any pharmacist who wishes to learn about GPP for free of charge.

    GPP training in Japan

    From 24 – 25 June 2016, the FAPA Community Pharmacy Section in partnership with the Japan Pharmaceutical Association, the Fukuoka City Pharmacists Association (FPA) and Daiichi University of Pharmacy held the first FAPA Community Pharmacy Workshop in Fukuoka, Japan. The program was attended by pharmacy leaders and innovators from different Asian countries to learn about the model community pharmacy systems practicing GPP in Japan.

    GPP program implementation in Asian countries

    GPP implementation cannot be achieved by training alone. In order to further encourage other Asian countries to initiate change in their existing pharmacy practices, FAPA foundation and its partner institutions also provide continuing close collaboration and support in the planning and implementation phase of these projects.

    GPP programs in the Philippines

    The University of the Philippines (UP) College of Pharmacy received a grant from FAPA Foundation to implement a GPP Project during the GPP Training Program held in Taiwan in 2013. The first project where the fund was used was the establishment of patient medication counselling services in the national university hospital and premier referral center of the Philippines, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) out-patient pharmacy department. The beneficiaries of the program include both the patients in the hospital, and the students who were given an opportunity to interact with the patients as well. The project has been sustained and have trained over 300 pharmacy students and the impact of the program on students have also been documented in a published journal article available online.

    With the first project successfully turning into a program that is included in the pharmacy curriculum, the remaining fund from the initial grant has been used to pilot other initiatives such as Patient Medication History taking upon admission at PGH, establishment of clinical pharmacy services in a partner hospital, and joining the community-based Interprofessional Education (IPE) Program under the Community Health Development Program of the University. The CHDP IPE program is one initiative that has been sustained and provides valuable opportunities for pharmacy students to interact with the patients in their community but also work with students and professionals from other professions, enabling mutual respect and trust at an early stage of their professional development.

    GPP implementation in Indonesia

    In recent years, several highly publicized cases related to use of medicines, particularly vaccines and parenterals, have exposed the gaps in ensuring safety in the course of the medication use process in Indonesia. This is seen as a prime opportunity for pharmacists to step in and fulfill their role that could prevent this situation from happening again. While policies and standards promoting GPP have already been promulgated, there are still many factors contributing to the difficulty of implementing GPP that can still be addressed. with the support of FAPA and FAPA foundation. The first activity conducted to introduce GPP to more Indonesian Pharmacists was the site visit organized by FAPA foundation, the FAPA hospital and clinical pharmacy section, and TVGH from 18 -21 February 2016 for the Indonesian Pharmacists Association (Ikatan Apoteker Indonesia or IAI) to discuss the next steps in the collaboration.

    The hospital visit was followed by a signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between IAI and the FAPA foundation during the Annual Congress of IAI on 25-30 September 2016. A collaborative meeting was also held to discuss based on the malpractice cases, the proposal of improving pharmacy services in hospitals by applying GPP principles in the steps related to the procurement, distribution, dispensing and administration of medications.

    On 9 July 2017, Mr. Nurul Falah Eddy Pariang, President of IAI and Dr. Kusnanto Rusdi, Chief of Health Office of Bekasi City, signed the MOU about the implementation of GPP in the Bekasi City hospitals. This was followed by a group meeting between FAPA president, Mr. Joseph Wang and the IAI Committee to discuss areas where FAPA foundation experts can contribute in the project.

     

    From 4-8 August 2017, the FAPA foundation GPP expert group and the IAI committee formed the GPP consultant team (GPPCT) to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), forms and proposed timelines to be used by the hospitals in Bekasi City. The templates made included the following: 1) Medication Management Organization, 2) Formulary Management, 3) Disposal of Pharmaceuticals, Chemical Waste and Medical Consumables, 4) Purchasing and Distribution, 5) Drugs Withdrawal or Recalled, 6) Wasting Medication Product, and 7) Storage. These materials where turned over in 7 August 2017, when all forty (40) directors and pharmacy managers of the hospitals in Bekasi City gave their commitment by signing the MOU with the government to ensure a better environment conducive to patient safety. This milestone was presented to the media by FAPA president Mr. Joseph Wang, IAI President Mr. Nurul Falah Eddy Pariang and the Bekasi City health office chief Dr. Kusnanto Rusdi in a press conference.

     

  • Solidarity in Crises and Natural Disasters

    There are many disaster-prone areas in Asia and different natural calamities often affect the countries of the FAPA member associations. FAPA aims to increase its presence not only as a network for professionals but also as an organization ultimately serving the Asian people. In order to share the values of service, generosity and solidarity with pharmacists in Asia, FAPA has not only contributed monetary support but initiated donation drives to
    engage more pharmacists and organizations to bring relief to the affected people and aid in the rehabilitation
    of communities through our member associations in those areas.

    Donation to Nepal Pharmacy Council for the earthquake survivors in 2015

    A magnitude 7.8 earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people and injured nearly 22,000 when it struck near the city of Kathmandu in Nepal back in April 2015. In order to support relief missions and rehabilitation of the affected communities, FAPA came forward and brought donations from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines and the FAPA Foundation for a total of one hundred thousand US dollars (USD 100,000) given to the Nepal Pharmacy Council (NPC).

    Donation drive for the earthquake and tsunami survivors in Indonesia in 2018

    In the Central Sulawesi region of Indonesia, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake followed by 6-meter high tsunami killed over 1,400 people and displaced 70,000 families when it struck on September 2018. To help in the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts, FAPA organized a donation drive to support the Indonesian Pharmacists Association (IAI) in their initiatives to help the affected survivors and families.

  • Engagement beyond the FAPA Congress

    Traditionally, member associations convene together with the FAPA Bureau during the biennial
    FAPA Congress hosted by the different FAPA member associations. Business meetings where member
    associations meet during the FAPA Congress include the closed council meeting and the open-council
    meeting. While convenient, the former set up does not provide enough opportunities for collaboration
    and discussions during non-congress years and slows down the achievement of the FAPA target of
    continuously supporting its member associations and following through with its initiatives. As a solution,
    FAPA started to hold the Presidents’ meetings alongside other events related to its advocacies during
    non-congress years.

    In September 2015, the first presidents’ meeting was held at Crimson Hotel in Metro Manila, Philippines where the FAPA Bureau, which was then starting their term, shared with all the member association presidents the FAPA targets for the next four (4) years. It was attended by fourteen (14) of the eighteen (18) member associations at the time. To maximize the visit, the meeting was held in conjunction with the FAPA Leaders’ Summit on the fight against Antimicrobial Resistance.

    The second presidents’ meeting was held on May 13, 2017 at Hotel Istana in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia alongside the forum on Separation of Dispensing and Prescribing Practices hosted by the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS). Fourteen (14) member associations of FAPA were represented in the meeting where updates are being reported to the different member associations. The meetings held during non-congress years has helped sustain engagement with the different member associations, and allowed for a speedy development in the specific programs of FAPA on Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) and those that aim to address issues such as Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), Medication Safety through Separation of Dispensing and Prescribing (SDP), and the Roles of Pharmacists in Disaster Management.

  • FAPA Welcomes Its New Members

    One of the primary targets set by the 14th FAPA Bureau is to become the biggest pharmacy federation by doubling the number of its members since its foundation from twelve (12) to twenty-four (24), representing pharmacists in more Asian countries. This target has been successfully achieved by adding a total of six (6) new members in 2016 and 2018.

    The member associations that successfully joined FAPA in 2016 and 2018 have significantly improved the representation of the other Asian regions particularly the Eastern Mediterranean Region with Afghanistan Nationwide Pharmacists Association, Emirates Pharmacy Society and Jordan Pharmacists Association, as well as the South East Asian Region: Myanmar Pharmaceutical Association and Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Society. FAPA is also joined by another pharmacy association from the Western Pacific, the Pharmaceutical Society of Papua New Guinea.

  • FAPA CP to present 25 FACP candidates in the 2018 FAPA Congress held in Manila, Philippines

    Pornpen Pramyothin

    September 25, 2018

    FAPA College of Pharmacy (FAPA-CP) is a subdivision of FAPA established on May 17, 1997 and was inaugurated one year later with main aims of elevating and enhancing pharmacy practice through special training under the auspices of FAPA-CP and those who will qualify will be given the title of Fellow (FACP, Fellow of FAPA College of Pharmacy).  Council is the governing body of FAPA-CP with the composition at present: President (Dr. Pornpen Pramyothin), Vice President (Dr. Rungpetch Sakulbumrungsil), Executive Director (Assoc. Prof. Aporanee Chaiyakum) and representatives from four FAPA member countries (agreed to actively participate in FAPA-CP training program) including Indonesia (c/c Mr. Mohamad Dani Pratomo/Mr. Nurul Falah Eddy Pariang), Malaysia (c/c Prof. Dr. Syed Azhar Syed Sulaiman), Philippines (c/c Dr. Olivia M. Limuaco) and Thailand (c/c Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sindhchai Keokitichai).

    At present FAPA-CP offers the training program in Pharmaceutical Care (first candidate was Mr. Nirun Jangkong) together with Social and Administrative Pharmacy (first candidate was Ms. Monthira Bumroongkit Thaveesri).  Both of them received FACP in 2012. To get FACP candidate has to pass 1.primary examination to get into the training program, 2.training program of at least 3 years with research in the last year and 3.final examination (both written and oral). To increase the number of Fellow of FAPA College of Pharmacy, candidates training in other programs equivalent to FAPA-CP training can apply for final examination.  FACP will be granted when he/she passed the final exam, accredited by FAPA-CP Council.  The equivalent training program accepted by FAPA-CP in Pharmaceutical Care was BCP (Board certified in Pharmacotherapy, the College of Pharmacotherapy, Pharmacy Council of Thailand) started from 2012.   In 2018, B.PHCP (Board certified in Pharmaceutical and Health Consumer Protection, the College of Pharmaceutical and Health Consumer Protection, Pharmacy Council of Thailand) was accepted as the equivalent training in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.  It means that candidates from the complete training by FAPA-CP and candidates from the equivalent training (BCP or B.PHCP) can apply for final examination of FACP.  FACP was also accepted by Pharmacy Council of Thailand in 2011.

    The FACP presentation is performed at the opening ceremony of FAPA Congress to be held every 2 years. So we have FACP 2012, FACP 2014, FACP 2016 and FACP 2018.  In 2018 there will be twenty five FACP candidates as follows:

    1. Orarik Asuphon 2.  Mr. Piyarat Pimsi
    2. Benjamas Booddawong 4.  Ms. Janjaree Dokbua
    3. Nattiya Kapol 6.  Mr. Rungsan Wongboonnak
    4. Sasitorn Eua-anant 8.  Ms. Sawai Tantawut
    5. Sumalee Rattanawarittikun 10. Mr. Supanai Prasertsuk
    6. Surasak Saokaew 12. Ms. Tulaporn Rujirayunyong
    7. Ms. Wanna Sriwiriyanupap 14. Mr. Kritsada Limpananont
    8. Ms. Piyawan Wongboonnak 16. Mr. Chatchai Panichsupphaporn
    9. Mr. Lertchao Sutthapanich 18. Ms. Sareerarote Sukamolson
    10. Mr. Wanchai Nontakitpisan 20. Mr. Manot Nakhawatchana
    11. Ms. Wilaiwan Sakarin 22. Ms. Warunee Chonwihanpan
    12. Ms. Jurairat Khonglormyati  24. Mr. Denchai Dokpong
    13. Ms. Suphannika Prateepjarassaeng

     

    For more information please contact Executive Director (Assoc. Prof. Aporanee Chaiyakum) at achaiyakum@gmail.com.

    Note: The Pharmacy Council of Thailand was established on June 26, 1994 by Pharmacy Profession Act 1994 as the representative of licensed pharmacists in Thailand with main authorized duties of granting license, diploma/certificate of specialist training program and ethical control of pharmacy practice. Since 2003, the Pharmacy Council of Thailand has decreed that all pharmacy graduates have to take licensure examination in order to assure the quality of pharmacists. In 2003, the Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Training Program by College of Pharmacotherapy was endorsed by the Council to provide diploma degree and develop pharmacist’s quality in this area. Then, in 2011, the College of Pharmaceutical and Health Consumer Protection was founded to develop pharmacist’s expertise in pharmaceutical and health consumer protection.