FIP is now a member of the Global Alliance Against Chronic Respiratory Diseases, an international network of stakeholders hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and with a vision of a world where all people “breathe freely”. “Approval as a member not only implies an acknowledgement of the role of pharmacists in the prevention and management of chronic respiratory diseases, but also a recognition of FIP’s work in this area,” said FIP lead for practice development and transformation Gonçalo Sousa Pinto.

One of FIP’s priority programmes focuses on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the FIP Practice Transformation Programme on NCDs aims to equip pharmacists with tools and strategic support for developing and implementing pharmacy services making a sustained positive impact on the prevention, screening, management and treatment optimisation of NCDs, including chronic respiratory diseases. In this area, FIP’s work includes publications like “Chronic respiratory diseases: A handbook for pharmacists” and its accompanying knowledge and skills reference guide, along with several digital events. FIP is also actively involved in addressing the health impacts of air pollution and promoting tobacco cessation. (Access all resources here: https://ncd.fip.org/.) “Membership of this alliance will also give us the opportunity to further disseminate our work on chronic respiratory diseases and tobacco cessation, and to engage in collaboration with other alliance members and the WHO itself,” Mr Sousa Pinto added.