China Licensed Pharmacist Academic Lecture Tour Launched in Shenyang

SHENYANG, April 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- With improvements in living standards and medical technology, life expectancy has been steadily increasing, accompanied by a continuous rise in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases. While treating these conditions, public demand for medications has gradually shifted. The concept of "seeking hospital care for serious illnesses and visiting pharmacies for minor ailments" has emerged as a new health paradigm. Consequently, the guiding role of retail pharmacy pharmacists has become increasingly important, with higher expectations placed on their professional theoretical foundation and the quality of pharmaceutical care services.

To strengthen the development of grassroots pharmaceutical talent and cultivate a sufficient number of qualified, well-structured, and evenly distributed grassroots pharmacists, the "China Licensed Pharmacist Academic Lecture Tour" project, organized by the China Pharmaceutical Education Association and exclusively supported by Pfizer, was officially launched in Shenyang on April 22. The project invited renowned experts from tertiary hospitals across 15 provinces in China, as well as distinguished lecturers from Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, to provide professional guidance and address challenges faced by grassroots pharmacists. This initiative aims to effectively enhance the professional standards of grassroots pharmacists, benefit patients with chronic diseases, and contribute to the realization of Healthy China.

"National Killer is the Problem" # Disease Prevention Is Paramount

Chronic non-communicable diseases, abbreviated as NCDs, refer to a group of diseases characterized by insidious onset, long latency periods, prolonged and slow progression, persistent and incurable conditions, lack of definitive biological etiological evidence, and no clear indicators for "cure." Common NCDs primarily include cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, malignant tumors, rheumatic and bone pain disorders, and mental illnesses. In China, NCDs are not only highly prevalent but also constitute the leading causes of death among the population. The number of diagnosed patients with just four types of NCDs—cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory diseases—has reached nearly 300 million, and deaths caused by these diseases account for 86.6% of total deaths.^[1]; furthermore, chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiopulmonary diseases, stroke, and diabetes cause more than 3 million premature deaths before the age of 70 in China each year.^[2]. Furthermore, the medical cost burden of chronic diseases accounts for as high as 70% of the national disease burden in China.^[3], becoming a major public health issue in China.

“The etiology of chronic diseases is largely determined by individual lifestyle factors, while also being influenced by genetics, healthcare conditions, social determinants, and climate. Therefore, we emphasize that the management of chronic diseases should extend beyond treatment to prioritize prevention and health management. This involves effective control during the pre-disease stage and early onset, thereby curbing disease incidence and progression, and reducing treatment costs. This constitutes primary and secondary prevention of chronic diseases,” stated Tian Lijuan, Deputy Dean of the School of Business Administration at Shenyang Pharmaceutical University. “Since medical institutions primarily focus on treating chronic diseases, they are limited in their ability to effectively promote early prevention and disease management. In contrast, retail pharmacies possess inherent advantages over medical institutions in terms of quantity, population coverage, and accessibility. They can assume roles in chronic disease education, management, and pharmaceutical care, playing a positive part in public awareness campaigns for chronic disease prevention and control. Furthermore, pharmacists in retail pharmacies can transition into the role of chronic disease management consultants, actively promoting correct concepts regarding chronic disease prevention, health promotion, and rational drug use, thereby empowering the public to effectively manage chronic conditions.”

Enhancing Skills Is Fundamental Training Pharmacists Is the Most Feasible Approach

This timeThe training program for the “China Licensed Pharmacist Academic Lecture Tour” will continue until September this year, with 30 training sessions held in 15 core cities including Shenyang, Dalian, Jinan, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Wenzhou, Nanchang, Kunming, Chongqing, Lanzhou, Urumqi, and Taiyuan. All speakers are associate chief physicians, associate professors, or higher-ranking professionals. The content primarily focuses on chronic disease service management for patients with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and chronic pain; new trends in pharmacy regulation and licensed pharmacist laws; specialty drug pharmacies and standardized chronic disease service pharmacies; and data-driven diagnosis of chronic disease customers. After the training, one top-performing participant from each of the 15 cities will be selected, totaling 15 individuals, to attend the summary meeting.

Yuan Zhenting, Vice President of the China Medical Education Association, stated: “As a national AAA-level association, the China Medical Education Association is committed to helping professionals in the pharmaceutical and medical industries enhance their skills and become key personnel in the sector through pharmaceutical education management, professional training, academic exchanges, and health education. Pharmacists in retail pharmacies serve as the best advisors for the public in medication selection and act as the primary liaisons for chronic disease patients in self-management. Improving their professional competence will significantly benefit public health. To this end, we are willing to collaborate with relevant enterprises to continuously pioneer and advance, jointly develop pharmaceutical education, improve the quality of grassroots pharmacists, and contribute our efforts to the health of the entire population.”

Rational Drug Use Is the Truth Multidisciplinary Collaboration Is Most Effective

Despite the recent “4+7” volume-based procurement affecting pharmacy prices, the gradual pilot implementation of classified and graded management for pharmacies, and the latest issuance of the Provisions on the Licensed Pharmacist Practice Qualification System, the roles of pharmacies and pharmacists have become increasingly prominent, and pharmacists’ professional competence has drawn growing public attention. Nevertheless, patients generally lack knowledge of safe and rational medication use, with some even choosing to take medications other than those prescribed by their physicians.

In this regard, Ren Xiaoxiu, General Manager of National Retail Business at Pfizer Upjohn, stated that as a research-based biopharmaceutical company, Pfizer has always taken “working together to build a Healthy China” as its mission in China, committed to “becoming an integral part of China’s healthcare system.” To this end, Pfizer has provided Chinese patients with a wide range of products, including chemical drugs, biologics, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. Originator drugs demonstrate clear advantages in efficacy and bioavailability; for patients with chronic diseases, their safety, stability, and effectiveness are more trustworthy. Over many years in China, Pfizer has actively responded to the national strategy of strengthening primary care and ensuring basic healthcare services. The company is willing to collaborate with primary-care pharmacies, leveraging its profound academic expertise accumulated over the years to help enhance the professional service capabilities of pharmacy staff, address patient concerns, and improve treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction.

[1] Wang Junping. Nearly 300 Million People in China Diagnosed with Chronic Diseases, 60% Related to Unhealthy Lifestyles [J]. Family Medicine: Happy Health Preservation, 2016(9):52-53.

[2] Wei Wen. 3 Million People in China Die Prematurely from Chronic Diseases Every Year [J]. Family Medicine, 2015(2):32-32.

[3] Yan Yan, Guang Hua, Luo Chao. “Three-Physician Co-management”: The Xiamen Model for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control [J]. Reference for Hospital Leadership Decision-Making, 2015(17):40-42.