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PTCB Becomes Observer Organization at the International Pharmaceutical Federation

October 5, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC – The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is pleased to announce that effective yesterday, October 4, PTCB became an official observer organization at the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). This status was approved by the FIP Council on September 28 at the 75th FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Düsseldorf, Germany.

“PTCB’s top priority is to ensure that pharmacy technicians are prepared to serve the pharmacy profession in providing safe and effective patient care. The ultimate goal of both PTCB and FIP is the same: to advance patient safety, care, and health,” said PTCB Executive Director and CEO Everett McAllister, MPA, RPh, who has attended the annual FIP conference for the past 4 years. “With our new status as an observer organization, PTCB looks forward to participating in efforts which align with the mission of PTCB. As the global healthcare system evolves and patient-centered care becomes increasingly essential to safe medication practice around the world, CPhTs and PTCB’s stakeholders will ultimately benefit from PTCB’s collaboration and expanded relationships with FIP members.”

As an observer organization, PTCB will be included in FIP communications and dialogue, and take part in calls for nominations to working groups and other FIP initiatives. “FIP is pleased to welcome PTCB as an observer organization,” said FIP General Secretary and CEO Luc Besançon. “The input of PTCB will be precious to our work, given the wealth of expertise the Board has to connect pharmacy technicians’ roles within the pharmacy team and to ensure their competencies, so that the profession of pharmacy remains able to respond effectively to the current and future needs of the world’s communities. The PTCB model could be inspirational for other countries.”

PTCB leaders have participated as panelists and presenters at the FIP World Congress, a global platform for exchanging knowledge in the international arena of pharmacy. In 2012, PTCB took part in a FIP symposium for pharmacy technicians across the globe, presenting information on the role of pharmacy technicians in North America and how national legislation and the organization of pharmacies affect technician roles.

Some 3,104 pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists from 111 countries attended the 2015 Congress. FIP welcomed three new official observer organizations, including PTCB, and now has 21 organizations in this category, including the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), United States Pharmacopeia (USP), and such groups as the African Pharmaceutical Forum, the Australian Pharmacy Council, and the European Pharmaceutical Forum. FIP added seven new member organizations, bringing the total number of FIP member organizations to 137.

PTCB Executive Director & CEO Everett McAllister, MPA, RPh, (center) accepts PTCB’s official FIP observer organization certificate from FIP General Secretary and CEO Luc Besançon and FIP President Carmen Peña.