A common concern among pharmacy associations worldwide is the long-term financial viability of professional services delivered by pharmacists, according to a recent policy statement from the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). “These concerns are first and foremost triggered by the impacts of continued price and margin cuts in dispensing of medicines and the non-allocation of funding in many settings for extended professional services and social care,” commented Mr Paul Sinclair, Chair of the FIP’s Board of Pharmaceutical Practice.
In the policy statement, adopted by the FIP’s 151 national member organisations across 108 countries and territories recently, FIP recommended that pharmacy services, aligned with the general objectives of a country’s health system, should have their own definitions, goals, procedures and documentation systems so as to allow for their evaluation and remuneration, guaranteeing their universality, continuity and sustainability, it stated. The statement covers remuneration of professional services delivered by pharmacists in any setting, including in multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
In particular, it urges pharmacists to provide data to inform evidence-based value for current and emerging pharmacist-led professional services that optimise patients’ use of medicines.
“A successful remuneration model is one that promotes sustainable delivery of professional services. These should be integrated into broader health system strategies and, therefore, funding plans.
“Covid-19 has proven how important pharmacy is to healthcare. Governments and policy-makers must acknowledge that the viability of the pharmacy profession is an issue for the broader health sector and society as a whole,” Mr Sinclair added.
