SAAP-03 - FIP Global Pharmacy Technician Symposium*

Tracks
Room 524
Saturday, August 29, 2026
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Details

Chair : Susan James, FIP Pharmacy Technician Advisory Committee, Canada Information: The Pharmacy Technician Advisory Committee is delighted to host the Global Pharmacy Technician Symposium alongside the 84th FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Montreal, Canada. Bringing together pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, educators, regulators, and health leaders from across the globe, this symposium will serve as a dynamic forum to share best practices, discuss the future of pharmacy technician practice, and explore innovative models that can be adapted to local contexts. Through plenaries, interactive discussions, and hands-on workshops, participants will engage with timely topics such as injectable medication administration, workforce models, and evolving scopes of practice. We look forward to seeing you there. Programme :
08:30 – 09:00Registration and networking
09:00 – 09:20Welcome & keynote address
Sheena Deane, President, Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians, Canada
09:20 – 10:00Session 1 – Building the pharmacy technician workforce – Lessons from a national case study (1)
Chair: Betty Dube, Robert Gordon University, UK
Speaker: Dr Camilla Wong, Director-General of Health Office, Ministry of Health, Singapore
This session will include discussion of a national case study, highlighting approaches to pharmacy technician workforce development. The speaker will outline how pharmacy technician roles are defined, their training and how they are integrated with the country’s health system, alongside key drivers, challenges and innovations. The session will offer practical insights into how workforce development strategies can support the evolving service needs and professional practice.
Learning objectives
1. Describe key features of pharmacy technician workforce development within different country contexts.
2. Identify common drivers and challenges influencing the evolution of pharmacy technician roles and training.
3. Reflect on how insights from international examples may inform workforce planning, policy or practice in their own setting.
10:00 – 10:45 Session 2 - Findings from the FIP Workforce Surveillance Program
Chair: Betty Dube, Robert Gordon University, UK
Speaker: Ian Bates, FIP Global Pharmaceutical Observatory, UK
This session will provide an overview of global pharmacy technician workforce data, including analysis derived from the Global Situation Report (FIP 2025) including information and trends related to migration, competencies, education, and professional recognition of pharmacy technicians. In addition, presenters will report on evidence to support and enhance intra-professional collaboration among pharmacy team members. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer period with the first two session speakers and symposium attendees, to discuss opportunities for further advancement of the pharmacy technician workforce.
Learning objectives
1. Recognize the role of the Global Pharmaceutical Observatory to collect, analyse and report on global pharmacy workforce surveillance data to inform heath workforce planning, policymaking and advocacy, as part of FIPs work on the Development Goals.
2. Identify key pharmacy technician workforce trends identified through FIPs workforce surveillance programme.
3. Describe key opportunities and calls to action for governments, regulators and policy makers, educational institutions, professional associations and international partners and funders.
10:45 – 11:00Break
11:00 – 12:30Session 3 – To scope or not to scope: International perspectives of defining pharmacy technician practice
Chair: Cathy Schuster, Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs, Canada
Speakers: Rebecca Chamberlain, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK
Zachary Green, Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, USA
Teresa Hennessey, Pharmacy Technician Society of Alberta, Canada
Dr Camilla Wong, Director-General of Health Office, Ministry of Health, Singapore
This international panel will explore how the scope of pharmacy technician practice is defined and enacted across different countries. Panellists will present national approaches before engaging in a comparative discussion examining the benefits and challenges of different models and considering their implications for workforce development, professional autonomy and patient or service outcomes.
Learning objectives
1. Compare how scope of practice is defined and implemented across different international contexts.
2. Critically evaluate the advantages and limitations of diverse approaches to scope of practice.
3. Identify key factors that influence scope of practice implementation and consider their application within individual participant contexts.
12:30 – 13:30Lunch
13:30 – 15:00Session 4 – Beyond the Needle: Illuminating the research and realities of pharmacy technician-led immunisation services
Kymmberley Wright, Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan, Canada
Kimberly McKeirnan, Washington State University, USA
Mathew DeMarco, University of Waterloo, Canada
Taylor Bertsch, Washington State University, USA
This session examines global and Canadian policy developments supporting regulated pharmacy technician roles in immunization and explores current evidence on the safety, efficiency and patient outcomes associated with technician-led vaccination services. Drawing on empirical studies alongside experience delivering more than 3,000 injections in community and outreach settings, the speakers will demonstrate how technician involvement has improved patient access, strengthened team culture and expanded pharmacist clinical capacity. Regulatory, cultural and operational barriers will also be explored together with examples of successful implementation from diverse practice environments, concluding with practical strategies for wider adoption.
Learning objectives
1. Explain the core value proposition of pharmacy technicians as essential immunizers in modern vaccination workflows, including safety, efficiency and patient care benefits.
2. Explore best-practice workflow models for integrating pharmacy technician immunization services into community pharmacy operations as solutions to operational barriers.
3. Recognise the human impact of pharmacy technician immunizers through real-world stories, highlighting patient experience, professional identity and team culture.
4. Recognise how technician-led immunization services improve equitable access to vaccination by reducing disparities and closing gaps in care across underserved and equity-deserving populations.
15:00 – 15:15Coffee break
15:15 – 16:00Session 5 – Building the future of the pharmacy technician workforce: Exploring a nationwide mentoring program
Shane P. Desselle, Touro University California College of Pharmacy, USA
Kimberly McKeirnan, Washington State University College of Pharmacy, USA and Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
This session explores the potential for establishing a nationwide pharmacy technician mentoring programme in the United States. Drawing on research findings, the speakers will discuss programme design considerations including the need for formal structure while allowing organic relationship development, effective mentor–mentee matching, mentor preparation, resource support and organisational commitment. Challenges such as time constraints, workload and limited mentorship infrastructure will also be examined, alongside the broader implications for technician well-being, retention, career progression and national professional advocacy.
Learning objectives
1. Describe the need for a nationwide pharmacy technician mentoring programme and explain how mentorship can support technician development, well-being, resilience and professional engagement.
2. Discuss the key features of effective mentorship identified by pharmacy technicians, including individualized guidance, long-term relationship building, mutual learning and a whole-person approach.
3. Identify important programme design elements and implementation considerations, including formal structure, mentor training, matching processes, organisational oversight and flexibility for organic mentoring relationships.
4. Recognise common barriers and opportunities related to national mentorship programme implementation and consider the potential role of professional organisations in supporting advocacy, leadership development and career advancement.
16:00 – 16:45World café and networking
Symposium attendees will participate in facilitated small-group discussions to reflect on the day's presentations, exchange experiences and identify opportunities to advance the global pharmacy technician workforce. Discussions will explore future symposium topics, emerging workforce priorities and practical resources that could support pharmacy technicians, pharmacy support personnel and organisations worldwide.
16:45 – 17:00Closing remarks
Registration : The session is accessible with pre-registration only via the regular congress registration. Costs are € 100 for FIP members and non members.

loading