The Commonwealth Pharmacists’ Association (CPA) has issued the Durban Declaration on the commitment of pharmacists to combating non-communicable diseases in the Commonwealth. Non-communicable diseases include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cancers, haemoglobinopathies (including sickle cell disease) and mental disorders. In this regard, June 16, 2011 will be observed as Commonwealth Pharmacy Day with the theme “The Next Challenge -Combating NCDs.”

The prevention and management of non-communicable diseases has become a global priority in recent years. The World Health Organisation has shown that, worldwide, non communicable diseases accounted for 63 per cent of deaths in 2008, with 80 per cent of these occurring in low - and middle - income countries. Many of the deaths occur in people who are under the age of 60, which not only results in personal loss to their families and friends but also in economic loss to their communities and countries.

“The tragedy of the impact of non-communicable diseases is that many can be prevented or managed by lifestyle modification,” stated Raymond Anderson, newly-elected president, CPA.

“Tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are all risk factors linked too many of these diseases,” he added.

It is also evident that the management of these diseases relies on access to and appropriate use of quality, safe, accessible, affordable, essential medicines. Clearly, this cannot be accomplished without making use of the knowledge, skills and experience of pharmacists in all countries. Pharmacists form an integral part of any healthcare team.

At a conference in Durban, South Africa from 29 May to 1 June 2011 hosted jointly by the CPA, the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA) and the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC), pharmacists from 22 Commonwealth countries discussed the contribution that pharmacists could  make to participate in programmes to control non-communicable diseases.

There are many national and regional policies that promote equitable access to quality, safe, accessible, affordable, essential medicines, including generic medicines policies, collaborative practice and harmonized medicines regulatory processes. The Durban Declaration on the commitment to combat NCD of pharmacists indicated unflinching support for the implementation of these policies in all Commonwealth countries.

At an individual level, pharmacists have many opportunities to interact with patients in both the public and private sectors. In addition to supplying medicines, they are able to provide access to health promotion information and materials in order to assist consumers to control the common risk factors for non-communicable diseases.

A frequently neglected area is that of accessible and affordable age-appropriate medicines for the management of non-communicable diseases, with particular emphasis on women and youth. Pharmacists believe that this should be given urgent attention, according to CPA.

In order to ensure that the pharmacists contribution to combat non-communicable diseases is maximized, stated Anderson.