Pharmacy education, workforce, practice, and sciences in Lebanon: Benchmarking with the FIP Development Goals

Abstract

Background: In 2020, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) published a set of 21 global development goals (DGs) that bring together workforce/education [W], practice [P], and science [S] in a transformative framework, defining an improved and more advanced pharmacy profession for the next decade. This paper aims to benchmark the context of the Lebanese pharmacy profession with the respective elements of the FIP DGs to optimise the previously suggested strategic plan. Methods: A group of pharmacy researchers with extensive academic, professional, and post-educational experience endeavoured to map the FIP DGs with the work produced in Lebanon, describing the current situation. The documents mapped were sought from published literature and white papers developed by academia and the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon (OPL), the national pharmacists’ association. Results: This study found that efforts are necessary to bridge the gap between the current situation of the pharmacy profession in Lebanon and optimal practice. In the short term, existing projects should be immediately implemented, e.g. pharmacy curricula reforms and accreditation, post-graduate training, recognising pharmacy specialities, organising the profession, and assessing advanced competencies. In parallel, related policies and regulations should be updated. Cultural changes, involving closer ties between education and practice, are required to reform the pharmacy profession. In the medium term, a national research strategy, including early-career scientists mentoring and assessment tools validation, is necessary. Digitalising the patient profile and medication safety reporting and updating the pharmacists’ database through appropriate platforms are also essential steps toward modernising pharmacy. Conclusion: Authorities and stakeholders should combine and coordinate efforts to implement existing plans and develop necessary strategies for optimizing pharmacy education, workforce, practice, and research, which is expected to bridge the gap between the challenging current situation of the profession in Lebanon and its optimal future development, for the best of the pharmacist and the patient’s health.