IPSF Statement on the Preparation for the third High-level Meeting of the General
Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, 

to be held in 2018
delivered at the 142nd WHO Executive Board Meeting
 


Statement on the 142nd WHO EB agenda point

3.8 Preparation for the third High-level Meeting of the General
Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable
Diseases, to be held in 2018

The International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation is the voice of over 350,000

pharmacy students and recent graduates in 88 different countries worldwide.
IPSF strongly encourages MSs to integrate pharmacists in the management of NCDs.
US insurance data revealed that patients with complex medication regimens suffering
from multiple comorbidities see their physician 3.5 times per year, but visit their
community pharmacist 35 times per year. This emphasizes pharmacists’ role as one of
the most accessible health care providers. Utilizing pharmacists’ services provides a
potential solution for the lack of proper access to health care and management of
NCDs, especially in developing countries, where the report shows a particularly
threatening burden of NCD mortality.
Today, pharmacists in various countries are trained to manage NCDs in hospitals,
clinics, and community pharmacies. For instance, pharmacists educate asthma/COPD
patients about proper inhaler technique, counsel hypertensive patients about blood
pressure monitoring, and encourage diabetic patients to take on a healthier lifestyle.
In addition, as drug experts, pharmacists optimise medication therapy, minimise
medication errors by identifying and monitoring drug interactions and adverse
effects, and improve medication adherence. With this in mind, IPSF recommends that
countries reform their pharmacy curricula to include such competencies.
Moreover, IPSF stands by WHO in their commitment to public health initiatives to
combat NCDs. In the last year, our student member associations reached more than
12,000 individuals on-site in countries across the globe by providing health screenings
and educating the public about NCDs.
As we anticipate the third High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the
Prevention and Control of NCDs, IPSF urges MSs to consider the role of pharmacists as
key actors in the healthcare team with the potential to expand access to cost-
effective management of NCDs worldwide.