Join The Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA)!
At a meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1965 a decision was taken to encourage greater development of the professions and professional organisations both nationally and internationally. A major step towards this end was the establishment in 1966 of the Commonwealth Foundation with one of its aims being the formation of Commonwealth Professional Associations.
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The then President and Secretary/Registrar of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain took the initiative and with the support of the Commonwealth Foundation, the inaugural meeting of the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association was held in London in 1969. Twenty-eight Commonwealth countries were represented.
With confirmation of its Constitution in January 1970, CPA officially came into being.
In the years since, much of CPA’s work has involved advocating the profession and the role of the pharmacist in particular, to governments and health bureaucracies.
Building capacity and strengthening health infrastructures and professional associations has been the focus of workshops, collaborative projects, training courses and travel fellowships.
Since its formation CPA organisational membership has grown to over forty national professional associations. Personal membership has been promoted over recent years and approximately 600 registered pharmacists from throughout the Commonwealth contribute their time and effort to advancing the Association’s work.
The Commonwealth encompasses some of the world’s poorest nations. The CPA advances health, promotes wellbeing and improves education for the benefit of the people of the Commonwealth. The CPA support the development of safe and effective systems of medicines management, healthier lifestyles, and the reduction of health inequalities. CPA achieve this through building strong collaborative networks, partnering with member organizations to improve the quality of pharmacy practice and creating platforms for the dissemination of knowledge about pharmaceutical sciences and professional practice.
Benefits
- Networking – Membership offers the opportunity to engage with international pharmacy practice, particularly the range of practice across Commonwealth countries as well as networking with colleagues. This opens the possibility of short-term practice placements or study tour by way of professional development and application to the sending organisation/country.
- Access – Members are able to access newly introduced online accredited education and training courses as well as discounts on selected titles from Pharmaceutical Press. Leading articles on key pharmaceutical topics are also featured as key resources for members. CPA also makes annual donations of the BNF to member Organisations and is a practical way that British health professions make a real difference to the quality of therapeutic care in developing countries.
- Promoting Professional Organisations – All CPA activities are designed to promote pharmacy, pharmacists and professional pharmacy organisations in all regions throughout the Commonwealth. Collaboration with CPA on regional projects, workshops and seminars can help strengthen and promote the profession and enhance the role of organisations within national health infrastructures.
- Website – The CPA website provides visitors with a digest of information on CPA and its activities. An interactive discussion board provides a forum for personal members to share their views and experiences on a variety of topics. Links are also provided to relevant wider sources of information.
- Advocacy – CPA can provide support to national organisations in their negotiations/deliberations with government and has a proven record of beneficial outcomes in this area.
- CPA Biennial Conference – CPA members obtain preferential rates attending the CPA Biennial Conference. The next Conference will be held in Bangladesh in 2015.
- Representation – CPA can represent national pharmaceutical associations on councils and committees at the Commonwealth and international level. For example, CPA is an accredited member of the Commonwealth Association. It indicates to other organisations and to the public that the organisation meets the Commonwealth’s eligibility criteria, and is committed to the purposes and goals of the Commonwealth. CPA is also formally recognised by WHO and works collaboratively with other international bodies e.g. The Commonwealth Foundation.
Eligibilities
- Membership of the CPA is open to:
- National professional pharmaceutical organisations of Commonwealth countries
- Individual registered pharmacists working in or from Commonwealth countries
- Pharmacy students from the Commonwealth
