There are currently over 60 healthcare observatories functioning throughout the world. These observatories, including those hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), gather, analyse, synthesise, and share reliable and quality health information on population health and health services.
In a similar way, the FIP GPO collates, analyses, and stores pharmaceutical data and intelligence across education/workforce, practice, and science. This means FIP can produce and share evidence and knowledge by analysis and synthesis of our data and intelligence. Furthermore, we can support advocacy through our networks and ensure the effective use of such evidence and knowledge that informs policy and decision-making. It also enables us to produce evidence of the impact of the profession globally.
The term ‘observatory’ refers to the function of monitoring the pharmaceutical workforce/education, practice and science together with trends, using standardised, objective and verifiable methods. The FIP GPO was originally established in 2012 as a workforce observatory. More recently, it has evolved into the areas of practice and science as well. The goal of the FIP GPO is to support the wider FIP Mission, which is to support global health by enabling the advancement of pharmaceutical practice, sciences and education based on evidence and data which enables:
• Advocacy for the utilisation of pharmacists’ expertise for the benefit of people and healthcare systems;
• The promotion of pharmacy as the first point of access for pharmaceutical care for every person in the world;
• Supporting and strengthening the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain from manufacturing to patient access;
• Improving health outcomes by the development and implementation of pharmacy services;
• Supporting the science-based development and regulation of medicines and health technologies to meet healthcare needs;
• Supporting pharmaceutical workforce development around the world to deliver our vision;
• Collaborating with international agencies, partners, and other healthcare professions, to ensure comprehensive and integrated healthcare for all.