The  International Pharmaceutical Federation or  Fédération Internationale Pharmaceutique, abbreviated as  FIP, is a non-governmental organization (NGO) with official relations with the World Health Organization. It is the global body representing over four million pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists and pharmaceutical educators through 158 national organisations, academic institutional members and individual members.

Vision and Mission

FIP's vision is a world where everyone benefits from access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and health technologies, as well as from pharmaceutical care services provided by pharmacists, in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Its mission is to support global health by enabling the advancement of pharmaceutical practice, sciences and education.

History

The Federation was founded on 25 September 1912 in The Hague, the Netherlands. It was the outcome of the series of international pharmaceutical congresses held in the nineteenth century, more specifically the congress held in Brussels in 1885. Following an initiative of the Royal Dutch Pharmaceutical Society in 1909, the 10th international pharmaceutical congress in 1910 in Brussels resolved to establish an international pharmaceutical federation in The Hague. The first president was Prof. Dr, Léopold of Italy, a professor at Leiden University. The first secretary-general was Dr. J.J. Hofman, pharmacist in The Hague.

Structure

FIP’s activities can be divided into three main areas — science, practice and education — led by its Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Board of Pharmaceutical Practice, and FIP Education, respectively. These work collaboratively towards FIP’s vision and mission.

Sciences

Work to advance the pharmaceutical sciences globally is primarily done through six special interest groups (SIGs). There are SIGs for:

Practice

Education

The reform of pharmacy education (including pharmaceutical workforce development) is a third objective, and this is the purpose of FIP Education (FIPEd), which includes: FIP also directs effort towards supporting early career pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists through its Early Career Pharmaceutical Group.