Author: Katrina Herrera

Bidding for FAPA 2024 and 2026 open for application

For interested member associations, visit the FAPA downloads page to view the bid manual.

Culturally Competent Pharmacists Can Improve Health Outcomes Among Muslim Patients

The Indonesian Pharmacists Association (IAI) held a webinar on 23rd April 2022 with the title: Roles of Pharmacists in Optimizing Care of Muslim Patients During Ramadan, focusing on how culturally competent pharmacists can promote medication safety and confidence in pharmaceutical products and services among Muslim Patients. This event was conceptualized and organized together with the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations (FAPA) and Federation of Taiwan Pharmacy Associations (FTPA).

The event covered common problems encountered during the month of Ramadan where fasting can affect the intake of medications, with patients unknowingly putting themselves at risk by omitting doses of certain medications or doubling the subsequent doses after breaking their fast. Pharmacist Dr. apt. Lusy Noviani from Indonesia highlighted that patient safety should always be the priority citing examples of how to assess and manage risks among patients such as those with diabetes.

Mr. Amrahi Buang, president of the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS), also discussed how Halal certification of pharmaceuticals can increase the confidence of Muslim patients in taking their medications and shared their existing standards, references and process of certification in Malaysia. He emphasized how cultural competence of both pharmacists and the pharmaceutical industry can empower patients to make good and well-informed decisions regarding their health and treatment.

In the panel discussion, Ms. Christine Catoera, the representative from the Philippine Pharmacist Association (PPhA), highlighted the challenges encountered by Muslims in a country where they are considered a minority including the low awareness among pharmacists on religious practices that could affect medication adherence and lack of reliable information and guidance to support the needs of Muslim patients. Dr. Rabail Kanwal, Lady Representative of Pakistan Pharmacists Association (PPA) also reminded that pharmacists should also support patients after Ramadan by checking whether they are able to go back to their normal and optimal regimen and also consider other lifestyle factors that could affect their health status. Dr. Nadia Al Mazrouei, representative from the United Arab Emirates and president of the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Pharmaceutical Forum, highlighted that the issues discussed exist in countries with Muslim communities across the region, whether they are a minority or considered the majority and the opportunities for collaboration on this topic.

FAPA President Dr. Yolanda Robles expressed the commitment of FAPA to promote collaboration in the region and the development of technical references to guide Asian pharmacists on this topic and expressed gratitude to Dr. apt. Nurul Falah, president of IAI, for his leadership and initiative to organize the webinar that opened up this discussion among different Asian countries. FAPA secretary-general Ms. Christine Benosa added that promoting cultural competence is only one among many initiatives where each member association of FAPA plays an important role in contributing what they can for the improvement of the profession and healthcare systems not only in their countries but for the whole region.

The webinar also featured the signing of the MOU between the IAI and FTPA, and Mr. Jin-shun Huang expressed that Taiwan pharmacists are committed to support and collaborate with IAI, and other pharmacy associations, recalling the slogan of former FAPA President Mr. Joseph Wang, “We are one”. In his speech, Dr. Nurul Falah, also shared the advantages of having good international working relations such as the partnership with FAPA and FAPA foundation and look forward to more future activities and programs. Moderator Anggun shared that participants can look forward to more discussions similar to this webinar in the upcoming FAPA Congress to be held online and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November 10-12, 2022.

Click here to watch the whole webinar on YouTube.

UPDATE: WEBINAR RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE! 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

UPDATE: WEBINAR RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE! 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

This is a FREE webinar open to those who are interested to learn about the different initiatives and ways to address drug shortages.

This online event is hosted by the FAPA Industrial Pharmacy Section in partnership with the Philippine Pharmacists Association and the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) Philippines Affiliate.

See event and registration information below:

Title: Addressing Drug Shortage Amid the Pandemic
Date: November 26, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 6:00 PM GMT+8
Platform: Zoom Webinar
Slots: 1000

Registration Fee: None
Certificate: Available after completing the post-event survey
CPD units: For PPhA Members only (no. of units TBA)

Host: FAPA Industrial Pharmacy Section
Partners: Philippine Pharmacists Association and ISPE Philippines Affiliate

Target Audience: Asian Pharmacists and other individuals working in the industry, hospital, community, academe and other settings who are interested to learn about drug shortages.

Register in advance for this webinar via
https://tinyurl.com/PhaResearch25ADSAP

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar

UPDATE: WEBINAR RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE! 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Calling all ACADEMIC PHARMACISTS in Asia-Pacific! Registration is now open for the first webinar in a two-part series on Virtual Inter-Professional Education (IPE) and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) in Pharmacy. The session on October 15, 2021 will highlight experiences in Philippine pharmacy education regarding Virtual IPE and COIL.

Title: Virtual Inter-Professional Education (IPE) and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) in Pharmacy: Experience in the Philippines

Date: October 15, 2021
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM GMT +8
Host: FAPA Pharmacy Education Section
Sponsor: Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS)

Registration is FREE but slots are limited!
REGISTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/FAPAEdu

FAPA Survey for Asian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

The FAPA Industrial Pharmacy Section, in partnership with the University of the Philippines College of Pharmacy (UPCP), is undertaking a study that aims to develop a notification system for drug and vaccine shortages influenced by local manufacturing processes in the region.

As an initial step in the study, we are gathering information from stakeholders and professionals working in pharmaceutical manufacturing in the Asia Pacific Region. With this, we would be honored if you could participate in the study by accomplishing the survey questionnaire: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffYy0mUvlFUf7lyINVlt6LYBTeFNbG79WYIqwLXFLdq5bIyQ/viewform?usp=pp_url

The deadline for accomplishing the survey is on 2 July 2021

For any questions or concerns regarding this survey, feel free to contact our FAPA Section Chairperson Ms. Ma. Rosario Barangan via email at: rbb@el-laboratories.com

We look forward to your utmost support for this endeavor. Thank you very much and stay safe.

COVID-19 Home Care Recommendations for Pharmacists and Patients Now Available

A joint guidance document from the
FAPA Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy Section
and the FAPA Community Pharmacy Section

On May 23, 2021, the FAPA Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy Section, led by Dr. Yuh-Lih Chang (Taiwan), together with the FAPA Community Pharmacy Section, led by Mr. Kimihide Nishio (Japan), have released a joint guidance document to help Asian pharmacists in the increasing need to provide support for patients that have no option but to manage their conditions at home.

With the increasing number of cases brought by the new COVID-19 variants, health systems are once again challenged leaving emergency departments full and patients in many Asian countries with no other options but to manage COVID-19 cases at home. The guidance document consists of two separate sections for pharmacists and patients that discuss general principles and techniques which may be adopted in each country as appropriate to their local situation and settings. Pharmacists are encouraged to implement the guidelines in a manner that is tailored to the needs of individual patients and their families.

Download the full document HERE