Over the weekend, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) hosted the annual Pharmacy Deans' Forum. This two-day meeting focused on areas of critical importance to institutions of pharmacy education. Deans from more than 100 Faculties of Pharmacy attended this academic meeting which was held in the College Hall.

Speaking on the annual forum, Professor Paul Gallagher, Head of the RCSI School of Pharmacy, said: "RCSI is truly honoured to be creating history by being the first academic institution to host this annual Pharmacy Deans' Forum. Having established RCSI nationally as an accomplished provider of pharmacy education in the ten years since the foundation of the School of Pharmacy, it is now timely for the School to do the same on an international scale. Such recognition will facilitate the fulfillment of the School's strategic intent to attract more international students."

"The hosting of this forum also promotes further collaboration world-wide in research and teaching and will create opportunities for our undergraduate students to pursue course electives outside of Ireland," Professor Gallagher continued.

The annual Dean's Forum precedes the World Congress of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), which is taking place at Dublin's Convention Centre. With the theme Towards a future vision for complex patients - integrated care in a dynamic continuum, the weeklong Congress attracts pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists and academics from around the globe. The Congress addressed a range of global healthcare and pharmacy topics including current trends in pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences and upcoming developments within the profession such as new changes in pharmacy service provision, the regulation of internet pharmacies and the electronic patient record.

Dr Steve Kerrigan, Senior Lecturer at the RCSI School of Pharmacy and a member of the Congress organising committee, said ‘We have been working with FIP, national representative bodies, the pharmaceutical industry, Government and pharmacist colleagues here and in Northern Ireland to ensure the success of this 2013 FIP Congress.'

The Congress will run until Thursday 5th September and approximately 3,000 delegates are expected to attend. The Congress will generate in excess of €4 million in revenue for the Irish economy.

For further information on the event and the International Pharmaceutical Federation programme, visit http://www.fip.org/dublin2013.