Pharmacists play an important role in reducing child mortality and improving maternal health. FIP adopts a Policy Statement on the Role of Pharmacists in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health today DUBLIN, IE. August 31, 2013 - Today the Presidents and representatives of the world’s national pharmacy associations congregated at this year’s FIP Council meeting to ratify a policy document on the contribution of pharmacists in improving maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH). The foundation of this policy draws from a reference paper gathering evidence on pharmacists’ contributions on MNCH and adopted in 2011. Maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) is a pressing global health issue that has the potential to affect many generations into the future. Every year more that eight million children die of preventable causes and approximately 350,000 women die from preventable complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Pharmacists are in a prime position to help improve MNCH including the targets set forth by the United Nations Millennium Goals: a 2/3 reduction in mortality in children under age five and a 3/4 reduction in maternal mortality and universal access to reproductive health. Pharmacists possess the knowledge, skills and vast opportunities around the world to play a role in facilitating or providing products and services that address these priorities. FIP believes that pharmacists could contribute even further, if and when they are empowered to within the full scope of pharmacy services appropriate in their country. “The challenges around Maternal, Newborn and Child Health is such that all members of the healthcare team should contribute towards improving the health of hundreds of millions of women and children around the world”, Dr Michel Buchmann, president of FIP said. “This statement highlights pharmacists’ care for women and children”. As easily accessible health care providers, pharmacists play a crucial role at each stage of maternal health, from women pre-pregnancy, to postpartum. They provide valuable education, advice, screenings and interventions for women of reproductive age. Pharmacists educate mothers and supply vitamins and supplements as part of a pre-natal care regimen. Additionally, they promote healthy lifestyle of prime importance for pregnant women and their to-born child. During childhood, pharmacists also play a key role through vaccine administration and tailoring medication to the specific needs and formulations required by pediatric patients. In addition to services specially developed to meet the needs of MNCH, standard pharmacists’ activities are also to be considered, as detailed by the joint FIP/WHO Good Pharmacy Practice (in terms of 1) Prepare, obtain, store, secure, distribute, dispense, administer and dispose of medical products; 2) Provide effective medication therapy management; 3) Maintain and improve professional performance; and 4) Contribute to improved effectiveness of the health-care system and public health) The FIP Statement of Policy highlights current pharmacist contributions in line with the priority MNCH interventions identified by WHO. FIP, in conjunction with its Member Organisations across the globe, has defined its commitments on MNCH. Among these commitments, FIP will: support United Nations agencies and countries in their efforts and initiatives to improve Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; advocate for the ethical, societal and scientific imperatives that will bring good healthcare to women, children and their families; encourage the development of training programs; encourage governments and healthcare organisations to work collaboratively in order to develop and support policies that allow pharmacists to work within their full scope of practice, utilising their unique competencies and skills to advance healthcare. There is strong evidence that through effective medication distribution, medication management, patient education, professional performance, and improving healthcare effectiveness, pharmacists play a pivotal role in ensuring optimal health outcomes, economic outcomes, and humanistic outcomes related to maternal, newborn and child health. A set of recommendations (to individual pharmacists, pharmacists’ associations and governments) has been formulated in this Statement of Policy, with the objective of healthcare systems making better use of the underutilised skills of pharmacists in MNCH. The FIP Statement of Policy “The Effective Contribution of Pharmacists in Improving Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH)” will be available from the FIP website. Contacting FIP Email: [email protected] Web: fip.org Tel.: +31-70-3021970 Fax: +31-70-3021999 PO Box 84200 2508 AE The Hague The Netherlands Daily News Get your daily dose of Pharmacy news from all over the globe. FIP on Facebook FIP Corporate Linkedin FIP Group on Linkedin FIP on Twitter FIP Congress on Facebook Update your contact information Please click here to view or change your contact information and your preferences. To change your contact information or to unsubscribe please use this link. Here you can also change your preferences.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 00:06:35 +0000