Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association

The then President and Secretary/Registrar of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain took the initiative and with the support of the Commonwealth Foundation, the inaugural meeting of the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association was held in London in 1969. Twenty-eight Commonwealth countries were represented.
In the years since, much of CPA’s work has involved advocating the profession and the role of the pharmacist in particular, to governments and health bureaucracies.
Building capacity and strengthening health infrastructures and professional associations has been the focus of workshops, collaborative projects, training courses and travel fellowships.
Since its formation CPA organizational membership has grown to over forty national professional associations. Personal membership has been promoted over recent years and approximately 600 registered pharmacists from throughout the Commonwealth contribute their time and effort to advancing the Association’s work.
In collaboration with national pharmaceutical associations, CPA has hosted seven international conferences during which a full Council Meeting has been held and a number of regional conferences in conjunction with CPA Executive Council Meetings.Our conferences aim to facilitate the exchange of ideas, to develop practice guidelines, to establish and implement projects and activities, to provide ongoing education, to support policies of the local pharmacy profession and to promote the role of the pharmacist both nationally and international. t a meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1965 a decision was taken to encourage greater development of the professions and professional organisations both nationally and internationally. A major step towards this end was the establishment in 1966 of the Commonwealth Foundation with one of its aims being the formation of Commonwealth Professional Association.
The purposes of the Association are to promote and disseminate the pharmaceutical sciences throughout the Commonwealth and to improve the quality and range of services offered there by professional pharmacists, Promoting high standards of professional conduct amongst pharmacists, having due regard to the honour and traditions of the professions, Effecting close links between members of the profession in Commonwealth countries and facilitating personal contacts between pharmacists and students, Facilitating the dissemination of knowledge and information about the pharmaceutical sciences and the professional practice of pharmacy, Liaising with similar associations or allied health professional groups within and outside the Commonwealth to assist in attaining the aforementioned objectives.