Annual Report - FIP

enewal of practicing certificate found a large number of pharmacists joining the Pharmaceutical Society
of Zimbabwe, which is the main provider of CE for pharmacists. I noted from the presentations that
there is a need for accreditation of CPD providers, so as to ensure that the education provided is relevant
to the profession. Treatment regimes and protocols have been changing over the years, hence the need
for life long learning and CPD.
Counterfeit medicines
This an area which is the subject of campaign programs in various countries. On World Health Day
2007, the Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe participated in a public awareness campaign on the
dangers of unregistered medicines which are obtained from flea markets and other unregistered
premises. It was interesting to note that various stakeholders are working really hard to minimize the
distribution of counterfeit medicines in the various countries.
FIP Pharmacy Information
Reducing antimicrobial resistance is a very pertinent topic which highlighted the need for correct medication
intake. It highlights the results of poor adherence to ARV regimes, which would result in serious drug
resistance and high treatment failure. Second-line treatment becomes unaffordable, especially in
resource-limited settings.
Medication errors recording systems is another area which was of interest to me. Errors can originate
from the doctor, pharmacist or the patient. The need for adequate labeling and effective communication
can not be over-emphasized. This also highlights the need for empowering the patient 'correctly',
especially where online information is concerned, and also the role of the pharmacist in minimizing
the risk of improper medicine use. It has been noted from certain research that the proportion of
medicine errors can be as high 40%!
The campaign on adherence code named "Only the Medicine You Take Will Help" highlights the need
for patient education on adherence, and the role of pharmacists in patient education. This can also be
used as a theme for Pharmacy Day.
African Pharmaceutical Forum
I attended the session of the APF whose objective is to promote pharmacy services is the African region.
I noted that as a region we have not been very active. The forum managed to produce malaria fact cards
and bilharzia fact cards which are tools which can be used for public campaign against malaria and
bilharzia respectively.
I was unable to attend the session on migration of pharmacists, which I know is a serious problem in
my country. The session was held before my arrival in Beijing. I noted from the reports that the problem
is not limited to developing countries only, but is a global issue. In Zimbabwe, there is a School of
Pharmacy with an output on an annual basis. Despite this output, the number of pharmacists in the
public sector is very small, resulting in the use of non-pharmacists doing the pharmacist job in our
public institutions. The Health Ministry is looking at ways of retaining pharmacist in the public sector
in order to strengthen the provision of good pharmaceutical services in the country.
Acknowledgement
My most sincere gratitude goes to the FIP Foundation for affording me an opportunity of a lifetime.
I attended the FIP Congress for the first time, after which I then joined FIP as an individual member.
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