GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The United for Self-Care Coalition is proud to announce that the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) have joined the Coalition as a new member. This strategic partnership brings the expertise and reach of pharmacists across 56 Commonwealth nations, many of which are Low- and- Middle Income Countries (LMICs), to a global initiative dedicated to advancing self-care as a key pillar of universal health coverage (UHC).

The CPA, an accredited Commonwealth organization, is uniquely positioned to advance health and well-being through strengthening health systems through workforce development, equitable access to medicines, and pharmacist-led primary health care. Their work is a natural fit with the Coalition’s mission to empower individuals and strengthen health systems by integrating self-care into national health policies and strategies.

“We are delighted to welcome the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association to our Coalition,” said Greg Perry, Director-General of the Global Self-Care Federation (GSCF), one of the founding members of the United for Self-Care Coalition. “Pharmacists are key in empowering people to manage their own health more effectively and truly embed selfcare into their daily routines. The CPA’s extensive network will be invaluable in driving the adoption of self-care interventions in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities, contributing to the achievement of UHC globally.”

Victoria Rutter, the CEO of the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association added, “Our mission is to empower and develop the pharmacy profession to strengthen health systems and improve access to pharmacy services and improve quality of care. Joining the United for Self-Care Coalition provides a powerful platform to further this mission. We believe that pharmacists, particularly in LMICs, are often the most accessible and trusted health professionals in their communities. Leveraging their full scope of practice is essential to meeting population health needs and advancing UHC.”

The United for Self-Care Coalition is a global alliance of like-minded organizations dedicated to the common goal: to achieve universal health coverage through codifying self-care as a critical component of the self-care continuum, particularly in the context of managing NCDs.