The World Pharmacy Council (WPC) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to representing and advancing the role of community pharmacies in global healthcare systems. Established in 1987, the WPC provides a unified voice for community pharmacists, advocating for their critical role in patient care and public health.
The origins of the World Pharmacy Council date back to 1987 with the formation of Pharmintercom.[1] This group consisted of community pharmacy organizations from seven countries that met annually to share information, discuss best practices, and address challenges facing community pharmacy. Recognizing the need for a more formal and influential global body, Pharmintercom members agreed to incorporate, establishing The World Pharmacy Council (WPC) in 2016. The establishment of a World Pharmacy Council (WPC) was discussed during the Pharmintercom meeting in Boston in August 2016. During an international teleconference held on 25 May 2017, the Constitution and By-laws of the WPC were approved / accepted.[2] Since its inception, the WPC has expanded its membership to include numerous national community pharmacy organizations across Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia.[3]
The formation of the World Pharmacy Council is grounded in broader academic discussions about the need for a global body to unify pharmacists and advocate for their expanding role, a topic explored in journals such as Innovations in Pharmacy.[4]
Purpose
The WPC's primary purpose is to advocate for the recognition and integration of community pharmacists' skills and services within healthcare systems worldwide. The organization strives to highlight the vital role community pharmacies play in providing accessible healthcare, managing medication therapies, delivering public health services, and contributing to positive patient outcomes. The WPC works to influence health policy at both national and international levels, promoting the full scope of practice for community pharmacists and their inclusion in integrated care models.[5]
The WPC's focus on expanding the scope of practice for community pharmacists aligns with global trends identified in independent academic research, which highlights the growing role of pharmacists as prescribers in several member countries.[6]
Structure and governance
The World Pharmacy Council operates as a not-for-profit public company registered in Australia, with its registered office located in Melbourne, Victoria. It is regulated by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).[7] The WPC is governed by a Board of Directors composed of representatives from its member organizations.[8]
Since 2021 the WPC's President has been Douglas Hoey, pharmacist and CEO of the USA's National Community Pharmacists Association.[9]
Activities
The WPC engages in various activities to achieve its objectives, including:
Advocacy: Representing the interests of community pharmacy at international forums like the OECD. As an Associate Expert Group member of Business at OECD (BIAC),[10] the WPC participates in discussions and contributes to policy development related to health and business.
Research and Data Analysis: Publishing sector analysis reports and conducting research on the impact and value of community pharmacy.[11]
Networking and Collaboration: Facilitating communication and collaboration among member organizations.
Annual Conferences: Organizing international conferences to share knowledge and promote best practices.
Policy Development: Contributing to the development of policies that support the role of community pharmacy in healthcare systems.
Members
The WPC comprises full and affiliate members. Full members are national pharmacy organizations representing community pharmacists in their respective countries. Affiliate members are companies and other organizations with an interest in the field of community pharmacy. As of May 2025, the full members include:[12]
↑ Du, Toit Jan (18 September 2017). "South African Association of Community Pharmacists". SA Pharmaceutical Journal. 84 (4): 61–62. hdl:10520/EJC-98c352f80.
↑ "About Us". World Pharmacy Council. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
↑ Mesbahi, Zoubida; Piquer-Martinez, Celia; Benrimoj, Shalom I.; Martinez-Martinez, Fernando; Amador-Fernandez, Noelia; Zarzuelo, Maria Jose; Dineen-Griffin, Sarah; Garcia-Cardenas, Victoria (March 2025). "Pharmacists as independent prescribers in community pharmacy: A scoping review". Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. 21 (3): 142–153. doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2024.12.008. PMID39732537.
↑ "Registry Search". Australian Securities & Investments Commission. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
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