Outgoing YPG-Philippines President on Attending the 2019 Pharmacy World Congress and Pharmacist’s Expanded Role in Immunization in the Philippines
By Teresa May B. Bandiola
When asked about her expectations in the Abu Dhabi Pharmacy World Congress, Margarita “Meg” Gutierrez who is only a few days fresh from her presidency of Young Pharmacists Group-Philippines (YPG-Philippines), said that she looks forward to getting inspiration, new ideas, and innovations that she can bring home to implement in the country.
Granted with the Ton Hoek Scholarship, Ms. Gutierrez shared to us that it is her first time to attend such an FIP event. Because her interests as a faculty member of the University of the Philippines-College of Pharmacy are primarily in the fields of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Pharmacy Education, and Community Health, she anticipates of attending forums that will focus on pharmacy education advancements from all over the world, listening to shared experiences, challenges and opportunities, and learning new trends in education, technology, and virtual classroom.
How do you think will the Pharmacy World Congress impact you both professionally and personally?
I believe that the Congress will help me grow and further develop both as an individual and a professional. Whatever lessons and experiences I gain from the Congress, I intend to disseminate to my students, co-faculty members in the university, and members of the YPG-Philippines. Hopefully, I can help in the innovation of the Philippine pharmacy profession by contributing ideas that I will obtain from the Congress.
Your term as president of YPG-Philippines has recently ended effective July 1, 2019, how was the organization during your leadership? What are your biggest accomplishments as the head of the integrated national YPG?
In the past one year under my leadership, I am honored and proud to say that the YPG-Philippines have achieved and accomplished so much as an organization. It has attained a greater reach to our members as well as interested applicants through nationwide general assemblies and formation of local chapters. We have conducted continuing professional development seminars which aim to increase the competencies of young pharmacists in topics such as pharmacovigilance, disaster preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, and pharmacotherapy for cardiovascular diseases. YPG-Philippines has also played active and dynamic roles in supporting various pharmacy organizations such as the Federation of Asian Pharmacy Associations (FAPA), the Asian YPG (AYPG), and the Philippine Pharmacists Association (PPhA) in the successful conduct of their activities in the country.
What’s your message to your successor?
I am confident that my successor, Ms. Krishelle Anne Obispo, has the heart and intention to serve the organization and lead with passion. I hope she continues to be the embodiment of the YPG-Philippines organizational values — integrity, dedication, excellence, altruism, and leadership. Although I have officially turned over the position and responsibilities to her, I ensure her that I shall continue to support her term and help her in ways I can.
The new Philippine Pharmacy Law that repealed the former Pharmacy Law expands the scope of the pharmacist’s role as immunization provider, what is your stand regarding this matter? Are you already seeing young Filipino pharmacists who are proactive in immunization programs in the country? Can you tell us about your observations? Their experiences?
Even though immunizing pharmacists are already quite popular in other countries, this role is still quite novel to the profession in the country. Because of this, Filipino pharmacists are not yet fully engaged in immunization programs. Training and practice sites are still limited.
I am part of the PPhA Immunization Advocacy Group that facilitated the launching of the Pharmacy-based Immunization Training program during the 2018 PPhA National Convention. Currently, the focus of the group is to create more trainers and prepare the practice sites.
Short courses for immunization trainings should be available in pharmacy schools for pharmacists who need to acquire and develop such competency.
What additional training do you think would be required for Filipino pharmacists to play a more active and permanent role in immunization programs?
It should start by incorporating the competency in the basic pharmacy curriculum in the country to nurture and develop the students about the theories and skills in the formal education structure and subsequently apply them during their internship programs. Moreover, short courses for immunization trainings should be available in pharmacy schools for pharmacists who need to acquire and develop such competency. In the national level, implementing rules and regulations (IRR) and certification programs should be created by concerned government agency to support and empower pharmacists in their role in immunization.
FIP is the largest organization of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists across the globe; it has its own YPG section. What do you think of the idea of forming an umbrella organization for all YPGs from around the world?
I think this is a good idea and that the organization can be an incubator for future leaders of the profession. If fellow YPGs from other countries would coordinate and work together, young pharmacists from all over the world could prioritize issues more effectively and create a more significant impact in their respective countries. Further, the collaboration could also be a way for organizations from developed nations to provide necessary assistance to other countries.
How can you convince young Filipino pharmacists to join international organizations like FIP?
I think the best way is by converting whatever I will learn from FIP to a program that is tangible and the impact of which can eventually be felt by Filipino patients. In that way, I can show Filipino pharmacists the value of being part of the organization and that it is worth their effort and time.
What’s next for you?
I have been accepted to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Social and Administrative Pharmacy of the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. After my graduate studies, I plan to return to the Philippines and continue teaching in the College of Pharmacy, University of the Philippines. With my PhD degree, I can be a part of the faculty members that can handle master’s degree courses in the field of Social and Administrative Pharmacy. I also plan to incorporate my learning in the further enhancement of our curricular offerings and community health development programs in the Philippines, focusing on drug supply management and pharmacy-based services.
