B8 - Finding the humanitarian face of pharmacy
Organised in collaboration with FIP’s Community Pharmacy Section and Military and Emergency Pharmacy Section
Chair(s)
Introduction
In crisis situations, pharmacists perform a wide range of activities spanning medicine and medical device supply management, direct patient care and supervision of therapy, administration of vaccines to the establishment and implementation of crisis management policies. However, there remains scope for greater contribution of pharmacists in humanitarian work. COVID-19 has opened a new chapter in the development of pharmaceutical profession, generating significant change and opportunities to contribute in future crises as organisers and policymakers understand the value that pharmacists bring to those situations. In some cases, pharmacists volunteer from a purely selfless internal motive to help; in other cases, there is an organised political requirement for pharmacy to be included in the medical team assigned to provide relief and support. This session showcases how pharmacists have gone beyond their daily activities to offer humanitarian support, as well as the global need and value to engage pharmacists in refugee crises or natural disasters.
Programme
| 14:00 – 14:10 | Introduction by the chair | |
| 14:10 – 14:35 |
|
Managing the pandemic as a humanitarian aid pharmacist Mr Lucas dos Reis Ercolin, FIP Young Pharmacists Group, Brazil |
| 14:35 – 15:00 |
|
The humanitarian pharmacy in international conflicts: Intervention in Ukraine Mr Angel Acisclo Huelamo, Farmaceuticos Sin Frontera in Spain, Spain |
| 15:00 – 15:20 | Panel discussion and Q&A | |
| 15:20 – 15:30 |
|
Conclusion by the chair |
Learning Objectives
- To describe the role of pharmacists in humanitarian responses and projects
- To raise awareness of the challenges that medicines pose and pharmacists face in humanitarian responses
- To provide opportunities for networking among pharmacists with humanitarian work experience or an interest in this area
- To learn about several examples of humanitarian work during the COVID-19 pandemic
