Newsletter 35 - News

Design by Mohanad Nader

Issue: 35

7th November 2006

IPSF Publications

President’s Corner Audrey Clarissa Only two weeks have passed since our introduction newsletter, but there has been a lot of progress! From the 1st IPSF Executive Meeting, 13-16 October 2006, in The Hague, The Netherlands, the new executive has started the year with full enthusiasm. We hope that through this newsletter we can bring IPSF closer to you and you closer to us. This is the pharmacy students’ world where we share our interests and ideas!

Viva la pharmacie!

EPSA and IPSF sign memorandum During the Autumn Assembly of the European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (EPSA), the two organisations have finalised and signed the Memorandum of Understanding that has been worked on for years. The Memorandum outlines future collaboration possibilities on campaigns, events and mutual sharing of information. Both executives were satisfied and happy to have signed the agreement.

IFMSA and IPSF finalise agreement The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) and IPSF have finalised and signed an agreement of collaboration for upcoming years. The collaboration involves cooperation and coordination

between the two organizations and continuously promoting multi-disciplinary health care, health education and research.

The 1st Meeting of the 53rd IPSF Executive Committee IPSF Executive Committee had its first meeting in The Hague, The Netherlands from 13th to 16th October. All executive members were present at the meeting that made it possible for executives to get to know each other. The reports from the first weeks of the executive were accepted and action plans for the coming 10 months were discussed and finalised.

The programme of the coming congress in Taipei in August 2007, the new IPSF website and planning of the News Bulletin were among the most important topics of the meeting.

Naturally a wide range of other current issues in IPSF were also covered during the long meeting days.

Besides the formal meeting executives had a chance to chat informally and even learn the tricks of using e-mailing softwares. This will

guarantee that smooth discussion between the executive and IPSF members will not be hindered by technical problems! It was also a great chance to enjoy the flavours of the local restaurants - the tastes of the IPSF flat kitchen should not be forgotten either! After the meeting it is sure that the executive’s work will be fluent in the following months.

The second meeting will be held in late March and the third one before the World Congress in August.

Benefit and Challenges of Patient Mobility The increasingly integrated Europe offers potential benefits to patients such as greater access to centres of excellence and actions that overcome existing trans-frontier imbalances between demand and supply. Yet for these benefits to be realised, there is still much to be done in terms of co-ordination of legal, contractual, regulatory issues, and in the provision of enhanced information to patients and care providers.

These actions, in turn, require a better understanding of differences in how health systems operate, on a day to day basis, and of the practical obstacles to greater coordination that exist. Europe for Patients in Ghent, Belgium 26-27 October 2006 brought together a multi-disciplinary team with extensive knowledge of the challenges involved in enhancing patient mobility within Europe, drawing on legal, health policy, and health services research perspectives, and covering all of Europe, including candidate countries. Together with ministries of health in Europe, IPSF joined this interesting discussion about policies that have brought a big effect in health service and how these challenges to be addressed. IPSF was represented by President Audrey Clarissa and Chairperson of Public Relations Mohamed Atef.

Patient mobility issue is not only for Europe but also for other regions, as we know that it is easier to go abroad now compared to years ago, therefore it is also easier to get access to health service in foreign countries. Questions for us as future pharmacists wherever we are: If the legal issue is solved, how ready are we for this patient mobility? And what are we going to do to prepare facing this challenge?

Education and Practice News With effect from the 53rd IPSF Congress in Cairns, Australia in July 2006, the Executive portfolios of Pharmacy Education and Professional Development have been merged into one - Education and Practice.

Initiatives under this new portfolio include • • • • • •

Moving On research projects Training, IPSF’s new leadership and capacity-building programme Patient Counselling Events Clinical Skills Events Pharmacy Profession Awareness Campaign (PPAC) Phuture scientific publication

The Chairperson of Education and Practice is responsible for planning IPSF’s sessions at the FIP World Congress as well as organising the Education Forum and related workshops at the IPSF Congress each year.

They also supervise the organising of the Scientific Symposium and poster exhibition. In addition, the Chairperson will also explore collaboration with UNESCO and other organisations to develop the portfolio and initiatives further. If you’re running an above-mentioned initiative or similar, or would simply like more information, contact Zhining Goh, Chairperson of Education and Practice 2006-07, at eduprac@ipsf.org.