Pharmacy Daily | Tech must not disrupt pharmacy: FIP

PHARMACISTS should play a central role in developing digital health technologies and services to ensure they do not dilute the quality of pharmacy care, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) believes.

In its position statement on emerging technologies and pharmacy practice, the FIP warned that technological advancements were disrupting the sector, with "profit-seeking entities", run by non-pharmacy players, harvesting "vast amounts of patient data".

"To protect the professional autonomy and related high standards of professional conduct of pharmacists employed by pharmacy owners, as well as to highlight FIP's long-standing support of ethical principles, FIP continues to strongly advocate for pharmacist autonomy in all sectors of the profession," the organisation said.

"The collection of both health data and online purchasing history combined with considerable artificial intelligence resources is of concern as our regulators do not currently address the need for transparency in how these data are used and for ensuring that such data collection is in the best interest of patients.

"Regulators also need to address the use of marketing tools and discounts to promote the purchase of unnecessary (and potentially detrimental) medical products, as the health and well-being of patients must be the highest priority.

"Any new disruptive technology or business model must not dilute the inherent protections that are in place for consumers and civil society under the conventional pharmacy model.

"They must allow for the continued pharmacist-based professional stewardship of medicines.

"Pharmacists should be involved in the development of digital health technologies.

"By being part of the technological advances, pharmacy can deliver universally safer, more accessible, timely and better value healthcare through a more compassionate, personalised and rewarding model of care for the communities we serve, now and into the future."