Chair(s)

Introduction

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were developed by the United Nations (UN) to mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind. The goals apply universally and are part of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. Linked to these goals, FIP has developed the FIP Development Goals (DGs). The SDGs for health and wellbeing entitled “Universal Health Coverage for All by 2030” aim to ensure healthy lives and to promote the well-being for all at all ages. From the patients’ perspective, the key target within the health goals is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030. This specific goal is essential to achieve other health and wellbeing goals such as reducing premature mortality from communicable and non-communicable diseases. According to the World Health Organization, the goal of universal health coverage is “to ensure that all people obtain the health services they need without suffering financial hardship when paying for them.” The WHO highlights four essential elements for a country to achieve universal health coverage: an efficient well-run, people-centred health system; affordability; access to essential medicines and technologies; and, a workforce that is well trained and at sufficient capacity. From this perspective, community pharmacies are well used and trusted by their local communities. They provide a range of healthcare services to help people to get the most benefit from their medicines and to lead healthier lives. Introducing further clinical services and appropriate use of medicines could offer more convenient and essential care for patients and better value for the healthcare system. This makes the network of pharmacies and their services a valuable asset for the provision of healthcare. However, many countries and member organizations struggle with implementing remuneration for pharmacy services as part of the primary healthcare model. The clinical care provided by community pharmacies, as part of the essential services element of their healthcare system, means that pharmacies deliver this care with no additional remuneration. Community pharmacy is the most accessible healthcare setting offered by every national healthcare system. However, it is often the most undervalued. Despite this, in most countries the community pharmacy services are not remunerated. This session will discuss innovative approaches to remuneration of pharmacy services, and provide a framework for how pharmacists can adapt shared experiences to their own countries, aligning the goals when creating a new, sustainable, proximate and integrated primary healthcare model.

Programme

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Take home messages