FIP calls for broader role for pharmacists to provide focused interventions in NCDs in primary healthcare
The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), a global federation representing about three million pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists worldwide, is calling for a broader role to be played by pharmacists to prevent and control non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in primary healthcare. NCDs are a serious healthcare risk, demanding new answers and requiring innovative and creative solutions. Here FIP sees the need for active participation of pharmacists to provide focused interventions, specialised counselling and care coordination, improving patient engagement to achieve better outcomes in NCDs like cardiovascular conditions, asthma/COPD, diabetes and cancer. Pharmacists are already active as primary healthcare professionals in the community. We need to optimise and harness the roles of community pharmacists in the prevention, screening, referral, disease management and treatment optimisation in NCD patients, said Dominique Jordan, president, FIP. In this regard t...