22 May 2013

FIP intervention at the World Health Assembly in Geneva on Mental health.

On May 22nd, FIP made an intervention at the World Health Assembly in Geneva on Mental health.

This statement stressed that given the shift into a more community-based approach, pharmacists are more than ever to be considered as a key asset to make any mental health policy effective.

Please click here to read the full statement.

20 May 2013

World's Health Professions Call for New Emphasis on Working Together

The global bodies for the five leading health professions, representing more than 26 million health professionals worldwide, are jointly calling for a new emphasis on collaborative practice. Health professions working together around the world can lead to improved health services and a more effective use of resources, they say.

The World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA), which brings together the International Council of Nurses, the International Pharmaceutical Federation, the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, the World Dental Federation and the World Medical Association, has issued a major new statement on Interprofessional Collaborative Practice

It was launched by WHPA in Geneva today, during the World Health Organization's 66th World Health Assembly.

The statement addresses the fact that health service users around the world can experience duplication, gaps and discontinuity in the health system. Yet effective collaboration between different professions and service can prevent this and lead to improved access to services, more user involvement in decision-making, more responsive services, better use of resources, reduced incidence of disability and increased job satisfaction of health professionals.

The WHPA calls on governments to fund structures which support interprofessional collaborative practice (ICP). The structures of health systems around the world should enable ICP, educational systems should promote shared learning, and health professionals need to respect each others' expertise.
“Health professionals strive to deliver high quality services within their scope of practice and with respect for the expertise of other members of the team,” said Rosemary Bryant, President of the International Council of Nurses. “This is a challenge that health professions can address positively together and with other agencies.”

Michel Buchmann, President of the International Pharmaceutical Federation said: “Evidence shows that effective interprofessional collaborative practice leads to a comprehensive, coordinated and safe health system that better meets the needs of people and their communities.”

Marilyn Moffat, President of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy said: “Effective interprofessional collaborative practice brings benefits in every area of health services - from health promotion, through injury prevention to condition management. Working together, professionals can effectively address pressing societal health needs such as the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors.”

Once the individual contributions of all professionals are recognised, there is more likely to be appropriate referral and a good matching of competencies to a person's needs, said Cecil Wilson, President of the World Medical Association. 'High quality patient care is most likely to be achieved when health professionals work together as a team. In an increasingly complex and fast-moving medical world, it is safer and more efficient when health professionals collaborate to the full extent of their training and experience.'

Orlando Monteiro da Silva, President of the World Dental Federation said: “The World Health Professions Alliance will promote interprofessional collaborative practice through advocacy, by example and by promoting educational, legislative and health system changes that bring about and strengthen interprofessional collaborative partnerships.”

About collaborative practice

According to WHO: “Collaborative practice happens when multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds work together with patients, families, carers and communities to deliver the highest quality of care across settings.”

Please click here to read the full statement.

28 January 2013

FIP Makes Interventions at WHO Executive Board Meeting

This week FIP is present at the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board meeting to bring forth interventions on behalf of the Federation and others on behalf of our partners in the World Health Professions Alliance. Click the links below to download the interventions and to read how FIP is influencing global health policy.

Intervention on Counterfeit Medicines

Intervention on Health Workforce

Intervention on eHealth and Domain Names

Intervention on Health in All Policies (Given by WHPA partners)

Intervention on Non-Communicable Diseases (Given by WHPA partners)

Intervention on Millennium Development Goals (Given by WHPA partners)