Frances Lois U. Ngo, RPh, MHSS
The UP College of Pharmacy (UPCP) sent a large delegation of students and professors led by the FAPA President, Professor Yolanda R. Robles to the recently concluded 29th Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations (FAPA) Congress in Taipei, Taiwan held last October 26-28, 2023, with the theme, “Health Systems Resilience, Security, and Equity: Pharmacists Can Help.” The FAPA College of Pharmacy is a pioneering organization that serves as an advanced training platforms for pharmacists across member countries of FAPA.
Professors, students, and alumni delegates from the UP College of Pharmacy pose during the FAPA Congress Opening Ceremony
The FAPA Congress emphasized how pharmacists are important human resources for health in delivering services in different levels of the health system.
Among the highlights of the event include Professor Robles receiving an Honorable Fellowship from the FAPA College of Pharmacy for her invaluable contributions to pharmacy practice and pharmacy education in the Philippines and in Asia.
Professor Yolanda R. Robles (first row: fifth from the right), FAPA President, receives the Honorable Fellowship from the FAPA College of Pharmacy during the 29th FAPA Congress
Another award, the FAPA Social and Administrative Pharmacy Section Award, was given to Professor Imelda G. Peña received the for her work in different areas of social and administrative pharmacy in the Philippines. The expertise of Prof. Peña supported various health technology assessment initiatives in the country, serving as a member of the DOH Formulary Executive Council and the HTA Council of the Department of Health. She spearheaded the development of training modules for the Immunizing Pharmacist Certification Program of the Philippine Pharmacists Association, which led to the certification of Filipino pharmacists as immunizers since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professor Imelda G. Peña receiving the FAPA Section Award for the Social and Administrative Section during the Opening Ceremony of the 29th FAPA Congress
UPCP Dean Francis R. Capule, Professor Roderick L. Salenga, and UPCP alumna Ms. Christine Aileen Ching-Benosa received the Outstanding Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) Alumni Award during the GPP Forum for their significant contributions to pharmacy and good pharmacy practice in the Philippines and in Asia.
The UPCP representatives gave multiple presentations about various topics, with Assistant Professor Charles Mandy G. Ayran winning the award for best poster presentation for the Community Pharmacy Section for his study entitled: “Communication Landscape in the Community Pharmacy Setting for the Provision of Care to Deaf Patients in the Philippines.” The paper is co-authored by Ms. Lianfey S. Amores, Ms. Lalaine P. Bagtas, and Ms. Angelica L. Dizon for their undergraduate thesis.
Among UPCP’s presentations include Pharmaceutical Landscape Profiles of Asian Countries presented during the pre-congress last October 24, 2023. The presentation, given by Asst. Prof Mac Ardy J. Gloria and Assoc. Prof. Margarita M. Gutierrez and facilitated by the FAPA Social and Administrative Pharmacy Section, provided insights into the practice of pharmacy, pharmacy education, and health systems among Asian countries, especially where the FAPA has a presence through its member associations.
Another highlight of the Congress was a roundtable discussion facilitated by the National Taiwan University on telepharmacy services in different regions of Asia. Prof. Frances Lois U. Ngo, representing the college, presented the telepharmacy initiatives of both the UPCP and the Philippine General Hospital.
In total, the College presented nine (9) oral presentations and seven (7) poster presentations in the areas of Pharmacy Education, Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Community Pharmacy, and Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy.
