Advancing health and education for the public benefit
We empower pharmacists at all levels to improve health and wellbeing throughout the Commonwealth
Our strategy
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Develop pharmacy workforce and build capacity through education and training
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Support pharmacists to strengthen healthcare systems through the safe and effective USE of medicines, prevention of disease and promotion of healthier lifestyles
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Advocate for improved ACCESS and QUALITY of medicines and vaccines, embedding pharmacists at all levels of medicines management
Our activities can be broken down into three broad and overlapping areas
Networking & partnerships
Advocacy & campaigning
Education &
training
Networking & Partnerships
The CPA is an expert network facilitator, bringing together the vast pharmaceutical knowledge and experience in the Commonwealth for the benefit of all its citizens. For more than 50 years, we’ve worked to build a strong and diverse collaborative network between pharmacists and other health-related groups, providing support to members across the Commonwealth.
By working collaboratively, we amplify the benefits of individual member organisations. For example, it may be possible to provide financial or administrative support for projects and activities that would be difficult for a single organisation to resource.
Our partnerships and alliances enable us to improve the quality of pharmacy practice across the commonwealth through:
- the promotion of safe and effective systems of medicines management;
- the promotion of healthy lifestyles; and
- support for measures that reduce health inequalities.
Advocacy & Campaigning
We know that pharmacy adds huge value to our countries and their citizens. Beyond healthcare outcomes, the positive economic effects of clinical pharmacy interventions are proven. Effective provision of and access to appropriate standards of healthcare and education underpin prosperous societies.
At a more local level, we have helped our members to build a strong case for project funding and communicate it clearly in their application.
Through our seat at the highest tables of office, the CPA has been raising the profile of key priorities for its members, including:
- addressing the shortage of healthcare workers (with an emphasis on pharmacists);
- the need for access to quality medicines and medicines information;
- tackling anti-microbial resistance and substandard/falsified medicines; and
- championing the role of digitalisation and partnerships.
Education & Training
It’s vital that the knowledge and skills of Commonwealth pharmacy professionals keep pace with the fast-moving world of 21st century medicine. Our new CPD platform (link) ensures this. It provides structured education and training programmes which build on the knowledge exchange that’s always been fundamental to the CPA through its network, meetings and events.
Our dedicated CPD website enables us to deliver the training and educational resources that we know Commonwealth pharmacists want and need. Why? Because our modules are developed in response to requests from member associations and individual Commonwealth pharmacists. Not only that, but the content is created collaboratively with them.
Our pharmacy CPD courses are available free of charge to all CPA member organisations and their individual members.