The World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences a.k.a the FIP Congress has started in the Swiss city of Basel.
Registration of delegates has been opened since 29-Aug and there are approximately 3,500 delegates from all over the world congregate in Basel, ie. home to two giant Swiss pharma companies - Novartis and Roche.
The Congress was preceded by the inaugural Global Conference on the Future of Hospital Pharmacy on 30-31 Aug. An overarching statement for hospital pharmacy has been drafted and voted by more than 70 countries that participated in the Global Conference for adoption. We expect FIP will soon issue the statement for adoption and guidance for all member countries.
During the opening speech, FIP President, Dr. Kamal Midha, outlined the 2020 Strategic Vision for FIP. The opening ceremony of the 68th FIP Congress was graced and officiated by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr. Pascal Couchpin, who incidentally also holds 3 ministerial portfolios as Minister for Health, Minister for Culture and Minister for Education.
The opening ceremony was not all speeches. The attendees were wooed and awed by the spectacular and adrenalin-filled drum performance by the Swiss troupe which also performed for the Euro 2008 Soccer earlier this year when Basel also played host to the event.
More report will be follow in the coming issue of eBulletin.
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