World Pharmacists Day 2022
Pharmacy united in action for healthier world

Nongthombam Rimotkumar Meetei *

September 25 was World Pharmacists Day . With the coming of September 25, pharmacists of all regions are celebrating this day with this year's theme, 'Pharmacy united in action for a healthier world.' And we now recall the themes of previous years as: 2021 WPD Theme: 'Pharmacy: Always trusted for your health'

2020 WPD Theme: 'Transforming Global Health'
2019 WPD Theme: 'Safe and effective medicines for all'
2018 WPD Theme: 'Pharmacists: Your medicine expert'
2017 WPD Theme: 'From research to healthcare: your pharmacist is at your service'
2016 WPD Theme: 'Pharmacist: Caring for you'
2015 WPD Theme: 'Pharmacist: your partner in health'
2014 WPD Theme: 'Access to pharmacist is access to health'
2013 WPD Theme: 'Pharmacist- Simplifying your medicine use, no matter how complex'
2012 WPD Theme: 'Pharmacists-your partners in using medicine responsibility'
2011 WPD Theme: ' I am your most accessible health care provider. I am driving from behind discovering new medicines. I am the key that unlocks all you need to know about your medicines. I am with you in sickness and in health'
2010 WPD Theme: 'Safety first with medicines, ask your pharmacist'

Federation Internationale Pharmaceutique or International Pharmaceutical Federation in short 'FIP' an universal non Governmental organization, NGO was established by the National pharmaceutical organizations, pharmaceutical scientists, pharmaceutical educators, researchers, inventors, regulators in the year 1912 on the 25th September.

In a congress of the FIP in 2009 at Istanbul, capital of Turkey, the Turkish Pharmacists Association proposed to observe this day i.e. 25th September as WORLD PHARMACISTS DAY all over the world. The FIP council approved the proposal and the observation of WPD started from 2010, the next year.

And FIP has been encouraging the observation of this day by publishing themes based on the practice, education, research and regulation of pharmacists by the FIP president.

The Federation was founded on 25th September in the Hague, the Netherlands. It was the outcome of the series of National pharmaceutical congresses held in the nineteenth century, more specifically the congress held in Brussels in 1885. Following an initiative of the Royal Dutch Pharmaceutical Society in 1909, the 10th international pharmaceutical congress in 1910 in Brussels resolved to establish an international pharmaceutical federation in the Hague.

The first president was Dr Leopold of Italy, Professor at Leiden University. The first Secretary general was Dr JJ Hofman, pharmacist in the Hague.

Now FIP has 4 million member pharmacists from around 146 countries. The present president is Dominique Jordan of Switzerland. One of the Vice Presidents is Ms Manjiri Sandeep Gharat from India.

Mr Luis Lourenco of Portugal is the Professional Secretary and Prof. Giovanni Pauletti of USA is the Scientific Secretary of the present term.

FIP's highest organ is the Council. All National pharmaceutical associations, (member organizations) and national pharmaceutical scientific associations (predominantly scientific member organizations) are represented in the Council and have votng rights.

Bureau: The board of FIP

The Bureau of FIP because of historical reasons as called as the 'Bureau; and consists of 14 elected officers viz. Presidents, Secretaries, immediate past President.

Executive Committee

The EC is composed of the President, both secretaries. The EC prepares, proposes and coordinates all the activities of FIP and refers these matters to the Bureau. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for, among others all staff matters and management of financial affairs.

The Mission of FIP : 'To improve global health by advancing pharmacy practice and science to enable better discovery, development, access to and safe use of appropriate, cost effective, quality medicine worldwide.'

The Vision of FIP: 'To support and develop high standard of education the health and wellbeing of unit society through leadership and develop of our professional work force and to ensure our contribution to the health and well of patients.'

Strategic plan is also vital and ongoing process to define an organization's purpose (mission, vision and value), the direction an organization is going in the future and how an organization will arrive at a desired future. An effective plan articulates the action steps needed to achieve an organization's goals and objectives.

So, the purpose of the Strategic Plan of FIP is the articulate the mission of FIP to the world and to key stakeholders to further strategic partnerships, purposeful collaborations and enhanced benefits for members and profession.

FIP has strong relationship with World Health Organization (WHO)

Lastly, this year's theme "Pharmacy united in action for healthier World' aims to showcase pharmacy's positive impact on health around the world and to further strengthen solidarity among the profession.

This World Pharmacists Day, let's pay our pharmacists their due wishes and salute them for helping patients.