The RPS today (March 13) said that it has officially rejoined FIP, the global federation of national pharmaceutical associations.

It announced that it would apply to rejoin the body in November, after an “overwhelming majority” of its members voted in favour of doing so.

 

Read more: RPS plans to rejoin international pharmacy body in U-turn

The RPS had invited its members to share their views on whether it should rejoin FIP, after many reported being “unhappy” with its decision to withdraw from the Netherlands-based global body in March.

The U-turn decision to rejoin “reflects the RPS’s commitment to international collaboration and the advancement of the pharmacy profession”, the membership body said.

“Delighted” to rejoin

“Members told us they wanted to see us re-join FIP to further our commitment to international partnerships that support education and advocacy to develop and progress the pharmacy profession,” RPS president Professor Claire Anderson said.

 

She added that the RPS “fully recognises the importance of international collaboration and the sharing of knowledge and best practice” with colleagues across the world.

 

Read more: Do pharmacists want the RPS to rejoin FIP?

Professor Anderson said that the RPS is “delighted” to work with FIP again, which is “refocusing” its membership offer.

 

The bodies will work together on “opportunities for professional development and increased visibility and recognition for the pharmacy profession”, she added.

 

“Now that we have re-joined, our teams across RPS look forward to reinvigorating the close collaboration we have previously enjoyed with our colleagues both within FIP itself, and across the breadth of FIP member organisations to further our vision and mission,” RPS CEO Paul Bennett said.

 

 

“Pleased to welcome RPS back”

 

 

FIP chief executive Dr Catherine Duggan said the organisation is “pleased to welcome RPS back to the FIP family”. 

 

“RPS is an influential voice in pharmacy across GB and their re-joining will strengthen our objectives to advance pharmacy worldwide,” she added.

 

Read more: RPS quits pharmacy body that it helped found in 1912

Meanwhile, FIP president Dominique Jordan said that “all pharmacy bodies need to work in solidarity to advocate for the profession and improve health outcomes for patients around the world”, amid the “challenges our profession and health systems face”.

 

The RPS assembly had proposed that the RPS should once again become a FIP member from January, but its return to the global body was subject to FIP’s agreement.

Pharmacists C+D spoke to in November all supported the move to rejoin the global body, although some criticised the RPS’s decision to leave in the first place and to not consult its members about it.