The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Pharmacy Declares are inviting pharmacy teams from around the world to sign up and commit to taking "bold action"
on climate change as mentioned in a climate change charter which was published on Monday (June 13).
The charter asks pharmacy teams to commit to understanding how human health and the systems which underpin it are "reliant on the state of our natural environment"
and actively explore ways to make pharmacy practice and medicine use more sustainable.
It also asks to collaborate and share best practice to improve sustainability in pharmacy and healthcare; demonstrate leadership on sustainability or being a champion
for sustainability at work; and assist patients to optimise their medicine use to increase both health outcomes and environmental sustainability.
The individuals can also commit to a personal action on climate change of their own choosing.
The Charter is being supported by a strong coalition of organisations from across pharmacy including the Centre for Postgraduate Pharmacy Education, the Clinical
Pharmacy Association, College of Mental Health Pharmacy and Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists.
Thanks to increasing environmental awareness among people worldwide, there's a growing commitment to sustainable practices across industries. The healthcare
sector, including pharmacies, is no exception.
Recognising the fact that 'climate crisis is a health crisis', 124 countries signed a new Declaration on Climate and Health at the first-ever Health Day at the
United Nations climate change conference, COP28 Dubai, which was held on 3 December 2023.
The declaration acknowledged the need to prepare healthcare systems to cope with climate change and accelerate actions to protect communities.
Welcoming the declaration, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the need to build "climate-resilient and
low-carbon" health systems to protect the health of both the planet and people.
Pharmacies play a crucial role in providing essential medications and healthcare services to the community, but their operations can have environmental implications.
NHS England has commissioned the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) to develop guidance that helps community and hospital pharmacy teams across Britain to
reduce the impact of pharmacy services, pharmaceutical care and medicines on the environment.
The RPS said the Greener Pharmacy Guidance will enable pharmacies to self-assess their impact against the standards, benchmark and improve through evidence-based
activities and actions.
"I'm delighted our strong commitment to helping pharmacy reduce its environmental impact can now be taken to the next level through developing guidance and
accreditation for pharmacy teams," RPS president Professor Claire Anderson said.
"Medicines account for 25 per cent of carbon emissions within the NHS and this initiative underscores our commitment to promoting sustainable healthcare and
supporting the NHS's goal of achieving 'net zero' emissions by 2040."
Peter Morgan, medicines assistant director at NHS England, commented: "Pharmacy staff are involved in the purchasing and dispensing of almost every medicine used
in the NHS and the new Greener Pharmacy Guidance and Self-accreditation scheme will provide support for pharmacy professionals by outlining clear actions to deliver
more environmentally sustainable pharmacy practices."
The RPS said the guidance and digital self-assessment toolkit will integrate with carbon calculator tools to help pharmacy teams to measure their carbon footprint,
action plan to reduce use of carbon and improve sustainability.
Global consumer healthcare company Haleon has launched a new centre of excellence for a global leader in consumer health which will bring together world leading
academics in human behaviour and frontline healthcare professionals including community pharmacists.
Unveiled at the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Congress in 'sunny' Seville, Spain on September 20, the Centre will operate as a community of healthcare
professionals and specialists in behavioural science, health psychology and the social sciences to solve some of the most pressing everyday health challenges.
Named the Centre for Human Sciences (CHS) the initiative will be the first major programme for healthcare professionals since the Haleon's launch on July 18 as an
independent, global leader in consumer health.
The Centre's mission is to support practising health professionals - pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and dental professionals - in serving their patients and
communities. Combining science with deep human understanding, CHS will bring expertise in physiology together with human sciences to deliver real world-solutions
and tangible interventions, resulting in measurable improvements in health outcomes through sustained behavioural change.
The Centre is facilitated by Robert Horne, professor of Behavioural Medicine at UCL School of Pharmacy, who started his career as a practising pharmacist but later
chose to become a behavioural scientist when he saw an opportunity to address issues around psycho-social factors that acted as a hindrance in pharmacy practice.
Speaking to me in an exclusive three-way conversation alongside Tess Player, the global head of healthcare professional & health influencer marketing at Haleon, on
the sidelines of the FIP Congress 2022, Prof Horne expanded on what the Centre was all about and how it would work.
"We've got some good ideas, but it's not a pre-filled prescription that we're going to deliver at scale from the start. What Haleon is t
The business landscape worldwide is undergoing a significant transformation, shifting from a sole focus on profitability to incorporating a broader spectrum
of considerations. Today, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are integral to business operations, reflecting a commitment to sustainable and
ethical practices alongside financial growth.
ESG stands for three interconnected pillars: Environmental, focusing on reducing a company's ecological footprint; Social, addressing the impact on employees,
diversity, equity, inclusion, and the broader community; and Governance, which ensures responsible management practices, ethical behavior, and compliance with
regulations.
This holistic approach is becoming a critical foundation for long-term success in various industries, including healthcare. For the UK healthcare and pharmacy
sectors, integrating ESG not only aligns with global sustainability goals but also offers substantial benefits. This article delves into the specific implications
of ESG for UK pharmacies, highlighting how they can leverage these practices to foster both community well-being and business success.
Sustainability also brings financial benefits to businesses. This has been proven by Prabjaudt Singh Channa, Director of Priory Pharmacy.
Prabjaudt is a proud winner of the Sustainable Pharmacy of the Year 2023, awarded by Pharmacy Business in association with Teva UK. Prabjaudt thanked the award
organisers for acknowledging the importance of sustainability within the sector and for recognising his modest endeavours to reduce environmental impact and
safeguard future generations.
"I just felt really happy and proud of this recognition because originally when I set myself down on this path, I didn't really think anyone would be that bothered
about the small changes that we were trying to make and the impact," says Prabjaudt.
In addition to his family's background in the field, his passion for chemistry also drove him to pursue a career in pharmacy. He finds being a pharmacy contractor
enjoyable because it allows him to be flexible, pursue various interests and shape his professional path.
Members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) highlighted the work of pharmacists in making medicines use and the whole NHS more environmentally
sustainable at the Welsh Senedd this week.
Politicians present were informed that around 25 per cent of the NHS' carbon emissions result from medicines use, and therefore pharmacists' expert skills are
crucial for reducing these emissions.
RPS Wales Director, Elen Jones, was among the RPS staff who attended the event, which was co-hosted with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.
Commenting on the event, Elen said: "It was great to get so many productive conversations with the politicians to highlight the great work pharmacists are already
doing in the sustainability field and to explain what further steps are required to reduce the negative environmental and ecological impact of medicines."