84th FIP World Congress highlights priorities for the future of the profession

Montreal, Canada, brought together professionals, researchers and leaders from the pharmaceutical sector from around the world between 30 August and 2 September for a broad reflection on the evolution of the profession, as part of the 84th FIP World Congress. Discussions and experiences shared throughout the event highlighted four major priorities for the future: an integrated vision of health and the pharmacy profession, stronger community-based care, innovation grounded in knowledge and evidence, and continuous workforce development.

The first is the need to ensure an integrated vision of health and the pharmacy profession, bringing science, practice and education closer together to address health challenges in a more coordinated way. This idea was reflected in the Congress theme itself, “One Health, One Pharmacy – Bridging science, practice and education”, and was highlighted by FIP President Paul Sinclair during the opening session.

«When we bring science, practice and education closer together, we not only become One Pharmacy and One Health, but we also come together as One FIP», he said, calling for joint action to advance the pharmacy profession worldwide and strengthen pharmacists’ contribution to global health. This integrated approach is particularly relevant in the face of current challenges, such as population ageing, pressure on health systems, and diverse political and geographical contexts.

The second priority points to strengthening the integration of pharmacies into community-based care and public health responses. Disease prevention, vaccination, chronic disease management and the management of Minor Ailments stood out as areas where pharmacies can expand their contribution to more accessible, integrated and sustainable health responses, in coordination with other levels of care and by making use of existing capacity.

The third priority focuses on innovation grounded in knowledge and evidence. Artificial intelligence, digitalisation and research based on professional practice represent new opportunities to transform healthcare delivery, making it more personalised, efficient and responsive to people’s needs. The examples presented at the Congress demonstrated the potential of these tools and the importance of ensuring that innovation is guided by evidence.

Finally, the continuous development of pharmacy teams emerged as an essential condition for taking on new responsibilities and keeping pace with people’s needs and expectations, in coordination with the World Health Organization. Against a backdrop of widespread shortages of healthcare professionals, strengthening skills and collaboration across different levels of care plays a decisive role in building more resilient and sustainable health systems.

«Many of the directions highlighted at this Congress already have a concrete expression in Portugal. Vaccination in pharmacies, the community-based dispensing of hospital medicines and the progress we are making in the provision of Minor Ailment services are examples of the sector’s ability to turn innovation into effective public health responses, making Portugal a reference beyond its borders. This experience should give us the confidence and ambition to continue moving forward and expand the contribution of pharmacies to people’s health and to the sustainability of the health system», said Ema Paulino, President of ANF.

The Portuguese experience was highlighted at this year’s FIP World Congress, notably through the presentation of the main findings of the “Study of the Value of the Pharmacy Network in Portugal”, developed by Nova SBE. Presenting the study, the President of ANF highlighted that «the pharmacy network in Portugal has nationwide coverage and is a first point of entry for patients into the healthcare system».

The presentation provided an opportunity to share international evidence on the value generated by community pharmacies for people, the healthcare system, the economy and the environment in Portugal, contributing to a broader global reflection on the profession.

Scientific research in the spotlight

The Association’s participation in the world’s largest gathering of the pharmacy profession was marked by the presentation of more than 20 scientific papers, reflecting the diversity of pharmacy practice and ANF’s commitment to innovation and an increasingly evidence-based professional practice.

The papers presented covered several areas of major relevance to people, community pharmacies and the healthcare system, including vaccination in pharmacies, the contribution of pharmacies to epidemiological surveillance, and the social impact of Associação Dignitude.

The paper “Real-World Oral Corticosteroid Treatment Patterns in Portuguese SLE Patients: Final Results from the TRANSfORM Study” was selected for an oral presentation, delivered by António Teixeira Rodrigues, ANF’s Director of Health Solutions and Evidence. The selection highlights the relevance of the research conducted and its contribution to innovation in healthcare.

​Participants sign the Montreal Declaration

Participants in the 84th FIP World Congress, including ANF, endorsed the Montreal Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases.

The document reaffirms FIP and its members’ commitment to strengthening the contribution of community pharmacy to the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases, considered one of the major global health challenges, as well as to health promotion. The declaration also underlines the role of pharmacists as the most accessible healthcare professionals for populations, calling for their greater integration into multidisciplinary teams and contributing to more accessible, sustainable and people-centred health systems.