The Hague • 29 May 2024
A new network to advance research, training and curriculum development in pharmacy education in the Western Pacific is launched today by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP): the FIP-UNESCO UNITWIN Centre for Excellence in the Western Pacific region.
The centre, a development of FIP’s partnership with the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) concerning the UNITWIN Network on Global Pharmacy Education Development, aims to promote an integrated system of pharmacy research, teaching and training, and community engagement and communication. Five universities from four of the 28 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific region (Australia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore) are founding members.
“I am thrilled that we are establishing this centre for excellence today. Our goal is to improve the standard of pharmaceutical and pharmacy education across our diverse region through excellence, collaboration and innovation. I am confident that with motivation, hard work and the joint support of FIP and UNESCO, we will make a lasting difference to the health of our patients from the Western Pacific Ocean to the South China Sea,” said Prof. Paul John Gallagher of the National University of Singapore, and the Lead of the new centre.
Guided by the FIP-UNITWIN regional roadmaps on pharmaceutical education and aligned with the FIP Development Goals, key anticipated outcomes of the new centre include a call to action on patient safety and patient safety tools, the launch of foundational and specialist development frameworks adapted for the region’s needs, and an intra-regional faculty exchange programme.
FIP CEO Dr Catherine Duggan said: “With this third FIP-UNESCO UNITWIN centre for excellence, we continue our work to advance the transformation of pharmaceutical education around the world. We understand that each region has diverse needs and systems and, by bringing together pharmacy education experts and resources, we aim to help pharmaceutical education institutions deliver a workforce able to meet needs. We encourage academic institutions from other countries in the region to join the centre.”
Institutions in the region can express interest in joining the centre by emailing education@fip.org. FIP plans to have centres of excellence in every WHO world region by the end of this year.
Notes for editors
More information about the FIP-UNESCO UNITWIN programme is available here.
ABOUT FIP
The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is the global federation of national associations of pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists and pharmaceutical educators, and is in official relations with the World Health Organization. Through our 153 member organisations, we represent over four million practitioners and scientists around the world. Our vision is a world where everyone benefits from access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and pharmaceutical care. www.fip.org
PRESS CONTACT
Lin-Nam Wang, head of communications & advocacy
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
Email linnam@fip.org
Tel +31 70 302 1987