Author: Michael Wei-Chih LIU

Original write-up: email

Submitted by: Immediate Past President Mr. John Chang

The Hidden Gem in FAPA

FAPA has brought immense value to my life and career as a pharmacist. Having graduated as a young pharmacist forty years’ ago, I was faintly aware of FAPA when my senior were talking about attending the biannual congress but had little idea of what it was all about.  So too were most pharmacists who made little attempt to attend other than seeing the same group of seniors talking about it after their return and then off again to the next congress.

My personal discovery only came when Malaysia hosted the FAPA Congress 1996 in Kuala Lumpur when I was fortunate enough to be elected the President of the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society. Having involved in organising the Congress and serving as a FAPA councillor and as Bureau member over a period of 20 years, my vision of pharmacy took a new turn.

Pharmacy is no longer a mundane profession or just the usual activities I see taking place within our national border.  Having been exposed to expert knowledge and experience of speakers and meeting the hundreds of multinational delegates from all over Asia, coming together for a brief period once every two years, it was eye-opener to me that pharmacy is truly alive and exciting.  More so was the awareness on the varied and advanced practice in other countries which can only but spur oneself to further explore the potential of the pharmacy profession.

Today, pharmacy in Asia has achieved great heights and FAPA has grown in size and membership, and its Congress attended by thousands of delegates. Through the advancement of pharmaceutical sciences, technology, education and the evolving nature of the profession, pharmacy has indeed become a Global profession that we can all be proud of.

If you are like me when first started as young pharmacists almost totally unaware of FAPA but only to discover the gem after given the opportunity of self discovery, that it is so enriching to attend the FAPA Congress not just for updating knowledge and skill but the friendship and networking with the international pharmacy community which is invaluable to my life and expanded my vision for the profession.  Do make a start on this rewarding journey.  You will not regret.

John C P Chang

Immediate Past President, FAPA

Original write-up: email

Submitted by: Vice President Prof. Shigeo Yamamura

Dear All

My name is Shigeo Yamamura, Japanese. I am a vice president of FAPA and work in Josai International University as a professor. I also work with Japan Pharmaceutical Association (JPA) in international affairs. My research interest is about pharmacy education in both pharmacy students and pharmacists. In an international revel, I am involved in FIPed (FIP education initiative) development team. I hope to discuss with you about future role of pharmacies and pharmacists in Asian and international level.

[FAPA Bureau Write-Up Series]:
Since FAPA’s expending its exposure and influence in Asia, we need our Bureau members to be outstanding and advocate for what they really would like to make FAPA different and bring people to be more aware of us as an international leading organization in pharmacy.  In these serveries, we’ve kindly request our Bureau Members (including President, Vice Presidents, and the Secretary General) to provide 100~200 write-up and also a short film (<3minutes) to introduce their efforts which have been done or plan to be done for us in FAPA; and it is always good to hear of their vision and planning for the development of pharmacy and pharmaceutical science, for us in Asia and the world.

Original submission article: mps-brief-profile-2016

Submitted by: KKLam

The Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS) is the National Association for pharmacists in Malaysia

The Society also represents the interests of its members and also the general public by having representation at the Pharmacy Board and other Statutory Institutions, and continuously engage the government in the pursuit of the New Pharmacy Bill that proposes greater autonomy in the pharmacy practice

The Society organized its activities, eg CPD throughout the year by the MPS itself and by the various Area Committees and Chapters across the Country.    Pharmacists have maintained a high profile both in the press media and the social media, thanks to the active Y Generation Pharmacists and committed members.

Among the many other issues pursue by the Society are :

Good Governance for Medicine (GGM) for Integrity in Pharmacy Practice, World Pharmacist Day celebration with an International Convention and also a Run, Antimicrobial Resistance Focus Group with representation in National Technical Working Committee and in the Steering Committee for a National Action Plan, Public Health issues like the Action Against Dengue.

At the moment there is a mismatch of fresh pharmacy graduates without pre-registration training and the Society is actively pursuing solutions to this

The Society will celebrate its 50^th Anniversary next year and plans are underway for this celebration

[FAPA Member Associations Write-Up Series]:
Since FAPA’s expending its exposure and influence in Asia, we also would like to urge our Member Associations to be aware by the region colleagues, especially in pharmacy. In these serveries, we’ve kindly request the current 18 ordinary members of FAPA to provide 100~200 write-up and also a short film (<3minutes) to introduce us again the organization, its efforts in developing pharmacy profession, and also its expectation to FAPA, to work with FAPA to this global healthcare system.

Original submission article: PPhA Profile for FAPA (2016)

submitted by: Imelda G. Pena, RPh, DrPH Executive Secretary Philippine Pharmacists Association (PPhA)

The Philippine Pharmacists Association, Inc. (PPhA) is the only Republic of the Philippines’ Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)-accredited, integrated national organization for Filipino pharmacists whose membership includes around 16,000 individual members from 85 local chapters all over the country and 10 affiliate organizations representing pharmacists in all areas of practice.

The PPhA was born out of a crisis that besieged the pharmacy profession in the Philippines in the middle of 1920.  It all began when complaints were filed against a few pharmacists who were accused of dispensing substandard medicines.  Realizing the need to address the crisis as a group, several pharmacists met on 29 August 1920 at the original site of the Manila Central University.  This paved the way for the foundation of the Philippine Pharmaceutical Association.

The PPhA has been an active member of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) since 1957. It was also one of the founding members of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations (FAPA) in 1964. In 1975, the PPhA was accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and in 1994 became the very first recipient of PRC’s “Outstanding Accredited Professional Organization of the Year”.  In 2015, the PPhA was awarded again with the PRC’s “Outstanding Accredited Professional Organization of the Year” (Category B – with registered professionals from 10,000 but less than 100,000).

In 2008, the name of PPhA was changed to the Philippine Pharmacists Association to emphasize that it is an organization of pharmacists in the country, with the positioning statement, “Pharmacists for Better Health Outcomes”.  The PPhA is the association that advances the nobility of the pharmacy profession in the Philippines, ensuring its integrity and relevance.  Through the years, the PPhA has been very much involved in issues concerning the pharmacy profession, the most recent of which was the passing of the country’s new Pharmacy Law, Republic Act 10918, otherwise known as the Philippine Pharmacy Act of 2016.

[FAPA Member Associations Write-Up Series]:
Since FAPA’s expending its exposure and influence in Asia, we also would like to urge our Member Associations to be aware by the region colleagues, especially in pharmacy. In these serveries, we’ve kindly request the current 18 ordinary members of FAPA to provide 100~200 write-up and also a short film (<3minutes) to introduce us again the organization, its efforts in developing pharmacy profession, and also its expectation to FAPA, to work with FAPA to this global healthcare system.

We congratulate to the following selected final 10, pharmacists and pharmacy students, to be our international volunteers assisting FAPA Secretariat in the coming 2016 FAPA Congress!
– Ms. NIEVA KRISTEL KEITH, Philippines, pharmacist
– Mr. Langit Mark Ryan, Philippines, pharmacist
– Ms. Adriatico Joanne Patricia, Philippines, pharmacy student
– Mr. QUE MATTHEW LAWRENCE, Philippines, pharmacy student
– Ms. NEOU SOVANNEY, Cambodia, pharmacy student
– Mr. SUBAGIYO AHMAD, Indonesia, pharmacist
– Ms. Sivtieng Taing, Cambodia, pharmacy student
– Ms. Nabilla Ajeng, Indonesia, pharmacy student
– Ms. Kang Ying Ying, Taiwan, pharmacist
– Mr. TZU-CHUN, Taiwan, pharmacy student

Their attitudes are highly appreciated for them to willing to take care of their own travel and accommodation during the FAPA Congress, and joining in the international volunteers team.  Although what FAPA could offer is very limited, they still be willing to contribute their skills and times assisting what we in FAPA proposed to make this Congress different.  Please join us to congratulate them!

However, among the number of total 52 applications, it’s very difficult and a hard time for us to choose among them.  Therefore, we make another waiting list like the following:

…Mr. Borja Rafael Ray, Philippines, pharmacy student
…Ms. Quetua Francesca Marie, Philippines, pharmacy student
…Ms. Villanueva Robee Ann, Philippines, pharmacist
…Ms. Chab Chanrathana, Cambodia, pharmacy student
…Ms. Khan Sreu, Cambodia, pharmacy student
…Ms. Castillo Mary Camille, Philippines, pharmacy student
…Mr. Gautam Bijay, India, pharmacist
…Ms. Nikitha Kolapalli sai venkata, India, pharmacy student
…Mr. KUMARA GAMHEWAGE JAYANTHA TIKIRI, Sri Lanka, pharmacist
…Mr. TIWARI SHIVAM, India, pharmacy student

For the week ahead, we still need some time for the final check-up whether all the final 10 confirmed of their presence in Bangkok.  Therefore, in this case, the waiting list will be used in order after all.

All above, again we congratulate all the selected and thank you for all applicants that have submitted their application.  It’s really appreciated to see so many young pharmacists and students who are knowing FAPA more and who are willing to make FAPA different together with us.

We are now reviewing!  Official announcement will be sent on August 12th (08/12)

‪#‎FAPA2016‬: What an excitement to know that the FAPA Secretariat international volunteers recruitment plan had received 52 applicants, including young pharmacists and pharmacy students, from around Asia. We are reviewing all the applications now and soon will announce the final 10. Thank you colleagues and friends very much!

The online recruitment just ended officially on August 31st.  We no more accept application.