D3 - 8th Global Pharmacy Technicians Symposium: Emerging and changing roles for pharmacy technicians
Organised by FIPEd, special registration required, please choose:
COMBINATION CONGRESS – PHARMACY TECHNICIANS SYMPOSIUM
Chairs
Susan James (Ontario College of Pharmacists, Canada) and Ian Bates (UCL School of Pharmacy, UK)Introduction
Theme for discussion:
Related to topic B: New roles, opportunities and responsibilities
Pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy support workers, pharmacists, educators, health administrators and others will explore current issues and challenges associated with defining and achieving FIP’s Pharmaceutical Workforce Development Goals (PWDGs) as they apply to the pharmacy support workforce. Since 2016, FIP’s member organisations, partners and stakeholders have used the PWDGs to support development of the pharmaceutical workforce within the three identified clusters — academy (education), professional development (workforce) and systems (policy, strategy and planning, and monitoring) ― but without a specific focus on the pharmacy support component of the pharmaceutical workforce.
The sessions offered during this symposium will allow participants to engage with the PWDGs and learn how they can guide development of the pharmacy support workforce from pre-service to advanced practice. Sessions will address goals within each of the three clusters. A mix of presentations, including specific case examples and interactive discussions will allow participants to contribute to the development of global tools that may be used locally to support development and advancement of the pharmacy support workforce. The symposium comprises of three distinct sessions running over a day and half.
Short presentations and discussion forum
Through short, country-specific presentations this session will showcase the variety of roles and responsibilities that pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy support workers fulfil globally. With human resources for health facing significant challenges to meet the demand for health care services worldwide, there are growing opportunities and examples of pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy support workers working collaboratively to develop new roles to support the global demand for pharmaceutical services necessary to optimise patients’ use of medicines and improve health outcomes.
Programme
13:30 – 13:35 Introduction by the chairs
13:35 – 14:20
- Investing in the global pharmacy support workforce
Tana Wuliji (Health Workforce Department, World Health Organization, Switzerland)
14:20 – 15:05
- Enabling pharmacy technicians for transformed roles
Angie Lim (National Healthcare Group Pharmacy, Singapore)
15:05 – 15:50
- Pharmaconomists’ contribution to patient safety in a rehabilitation department
Jette Seidelin (Pharmaconomist, Denmark)
15:50 – 16:10 Coffee/tea break
PART 2: GLOBAL SHOWCASE
Oral presentations
16:10 – 16:40
- Emerging roles of pharmaceutical technologists and technicians in Malta
Christ Xerri (University of Malta, Malta)
16:40 – 17:10
- Medicine dispensers in Tanzania ― A new pharmaceutical cadre to serve rural health care facilities
Karin Wiedenmayer (Swiss Centre for International Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Switzerland)
One-minute poster snapshots
17:10 – 17:15
- Immunising pharmacy technicians and pharmacy workflow: Pharmacists’ opinions
Kimberly McKeirnan (Pharmacotherapy, Washington State University, USA)
17:15 – 17:20
- The collaboration between Steno Pharmacy and Danish acute clinics
Mia Madsen (Steno Pharmacy, Denmark)
17:20 – 17:25 Conclusion by the chairs
17:25 – 17:30 Room refresh
Learning Objectives
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Specify the underlying health system and workforce development drivers that lead to development of pharmacy technician roles within different practice and country contexts
- Identify specific examples of new and emerging practice roles and responsibilities that pharmacy technicians are assuming and that may be adapted to their own practice
- Outline strategies to enhance the contribution of pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy support workers to optimise the delivery of pharmaceutical services and promote sustainable healthcare services.
Type of session: Knowledge-based
