New FIP commission launched to support global pharmacy data hub

The Hague, 23 September 2020 — The One FIP Data and Intelligence Commission was launched today during FIP Virtual 2020. The commission will provide strategic advice on the development of the Global Pharmaceutical Observatory (GPO).

The FIP GPO builds on FIP’s foundational history of collating and using pharmacy-related data, and will be a global data hub that can be used to inform advocacy work for FIP members and partners. It will aid policy development, decision-making, workforce intelligence, and the advancement of pharmaceutical practice, health and life-sciences, education and skills training.

Incorporating the FIP Development Goals launched earlier this week, the FIP GPO will deliver an expansive set of validated information to drive evidence-based analysis of past, current and future trends.

Members of the commission, chaired by Professor Robert Sindelar, University of British Columbia, Canada, will provide assurance and guidance on achieving the FIP GPO vision and mission, which were presented at FIP Virtual 2020 today. They will also validate the integration of GPO activities across FIP and with stakeholders, and advocate for the FIP GPO. Members of the commission will be drawn from across FIP’s boards, sections, regions and member organisations, and a nomination process will be circulated in due course.

Professor Sindelar said: “Data volumes will continue to increase and experts agree that the amount of generated data will be growing exponentially every day into the future. The key is not just collecting data and individual observations, but turning that data into intelligence that empowers FIP and its stakeholders to form a predictive picture that enables better decision-making for pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences.”