In a development in which the Indian pharmacy education will get global recognition, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), a 120-member global federation of national associations of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, has agreed in-principle to allow India to participate in the global framework of quality in pharma education.

For India, the participation in the global framework of the FIP will be a good opportunity to showcase its pharmacy profession and education to the world. Eventually, the standard of pharma education in the country will go high and it will have recognition all over the world.

Recognising the need to support and strengthen pharmacy education worldwide, FIP, along with WHO and UNESCO, had formed the Pharmacy Education Taskforce. The Taskforce is a coordinating body of organisations, agencies, institutions, and individuals with the shared goal of catalysing actions to develop pharmacy education in the world. Through the work of various individuals, working groups and taskforces, FIP initiates and implements numerous projects and programmes that are making a significant impact within global pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical sciences and community health.

Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) president Dr B Suresh said that India has volunteered to participate in the national framework for quality of pharmacy education. And in the next stage, the national framework will be integrated with the global framework. Once India actively participates in the programme, our pharmacy education will be considered equal to other countries, he said.

FIP's priorities have expanded both literally and figuratively to meet the needs and expectations of the profession in expanding healthcare services and integrating emerging scientific developments. Changes in pharmacy and the emergence of pharmacy practice as a cornerstone of the profession have led FIP to become globally visible for its advocacy on behalf of the role of the pharmacist in the provision of healthcare, while still maintaining its grounding in the pharmaceutical sciences.