Amidst the hustle & bustle of 16 million population and more than 3 million vehicles, FIP was successfully held in Beijing with more than 3,000 delegates attended.
This annual event has chosen to come to China partly due to the 100th year anniversary of the host, Chinese Pharmaceutical Association. PSS presented our Chinese counterpart with a memento to mark their centennial and to celebrate the close tie both organizations have forged over the recent years. The venue of the Congress was purposefully chosen in Jiuhua Resort which is located in the 6th Ring Road of Beijing to ensure that the cost and the size of the participants can be more manageable under one location.
The Opening Ceremony was held in the majestic Great People’s Hall. The Vice Premier of China, Ms Wu Yi, graced the Opening Ceremony together with dignitaries included Professor Sang Guowei – President of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, Professor Channgen Feng - Executive Secretary for the China Association for Science and Technology, Mr. Shao Mingli, - Director General of the State Food and Drug Administration, the Bureau of FIP, distinguished Award Winners, all Presidents of the Member Organisations and the invited delegates. All were treated to spectacular entertainment showcasing some of the best talents of China ranging from traditional and modern musics to classical opera and Shaolin martial arts.
FIP President Dr Kamal K Midha highlighted the developments over the first year of his Presidency and emphasized FIP’s dedication and commitment to various global healthcare issues such as Pharmacy Education, Professional Advocacy, brain-drain of trained healthcare professionals and increased support to developing countries, a wide ranging speech which embodied the major issues which pharmacists and pharmacy face in today’s society.
Participants of the FIP Congress in Beijing are benefiting from one of the most comprehensive Congress Programmes to date, with 32 officially accredited sessions spanning broad to specialised topics from the Boards of Pharmaceutical Science and Practice, including joint BPP/BPS workshops , pre-satellite symposia and Roundtable Sessions on Pharmacy Education and the Impact of the Pharmacist on Society. Apart from the workshops, lectures and posters, the congress also was an excellent opportunity to network and interact. PSS President Mr Ng Cheng Tiang and NHG Pharmacy General Manager Ms Chan Soo Chung were the only 2 representatives from PSS representing Singapore, besides the our familiar Singapore-trained pharmacist Mr Chan Xuanhao who has been working for FIP and based in the Netherlands. As usual, a number of pharmaceutical societies/associations would host social receptions were hosted by American Pharmacists Association, Nordic Pharmaceutical Associations and Japan Pharmaceutical Association.
Despite the large size of Chinese pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, only about 600 of the 3,000 odd delegates were local; the rest were hailed from different countries from all over the world. The next FIP Congress will be held in Basel, Switzerland.
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