To achieve a fully person-centred and service-oriented pharmacy practice model, it is essential to “define pharmacies as healthcare facilities, to designate pharmacists as healthcare providers, and to provide enabling legislative and regulatory frameworks”, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) said in a holding statement this week.

Professional and person-centred community pharmacies are essential for functional and efficient health systems, says FIP. Governments should not only uphold this model of community pharmacy, but also leverage community pharmacies for the provision of integrated primary healthcare, thus reducing pressure on general practice teams and emergency departments, and making better use of the limited health workforce and other resources, it continues.

The statement, recently supported by the FIP Council, also makes clear that it is equally important to define and set in place the funding mechanisms that render the provision of pharmacy services equitable and sustainable. It makes several recommendations to support a service-oriented practice model.

To ensure that pharmacies are recognised and function as health facilities, governments must pay “close and deep attention” to pharmacy practice and support the development of a healthier pharmacy practice environment, the Federation says.

An FIP holding statement is an initial statement on an issue about which, pending further evidence, the FIP intends to make a further statement.