<p>The joint statement was signed at the 71st World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2011, inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil here.<br /><br />The joint statement envisages a series of measures to help detect tuberculosis, offer treatment support to patients and substantially reduce the number of deaths due to it.<br /><br />"This would be achieved by encouraging the FIP's network of two million pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists around the world to become fully engaged in national TB care and control efforts," FIP officials said.<br /><br />"Pharmacists can be the gatekeepers to vital TB health services. WHO welcomes the opportunities that further collaboration with the federations's network of pharmacists will bring in helping many people with tuberculosis gain early access to the care and treatment they need," Hiroki Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director General of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, said.<br /><br />"The FIP will endeavour to support WHO and their member states in enabling national tuberculosis programmes and national pharmacy associations to strengthen their collaboration towards care and control of TB and multi-drug resistant-TB globally," FIP President Michel Buchmann said. <br /><br />The WHO/FIP joint statement -- engaging pharmacists in TB Care and Control -- urges TB programmes and pharmacy associations to engage pharmacists and use their untapped potential in the fight against tuberculosis.<br /><br />This can be done by -- increasing awareness of TB, and refer people with symptoms to facilities with diagnosis and treatment; providing patient-centred treatment supervision to promote adherence and help prevent multidrug-resistant TB.<br /><br />It also advocates promoting the rational use of anti-TB medicines through: a) procuring and dispensing quality-assured medicines and fixed-dose combinations recommended by WHO b) prohibiting the sale of anti-TB medicines over the counter; supporting healthcare providers to rationalise and strengthen their TB management practices, FIP officials said.</p>
<p>The joint statement was signed at the 71st World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2011, inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil here.<br /><br />The joint statement envisages a series of measures to help detect tuberculosis, offer treatment support to patients and substantially reduce the number of deaths due to it.<br /><br />"This would be achieved by encouraging the FIP's network of two million pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists around the world to become fully engaged in national TB care and control efforts," FIP officials said.<br /><br />"Pharmacists can be the gatekeepers to vital TB health services. WHO welcomes the opportunities that further collaboration with the federations's network of pharmacists will bring in helping many people with tuberculosis gain early access to the care and treatment they need," Hiroki Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director General of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, said.<br /><br />"The FIP will endeavour to support WHO and their member states in enabling national tuberculosis programmes and national pharmacy associations to strengthen their collaboration towards care and control of TB and multi-drug resistant-TB globally," FIP President Michel Buchmann said. <br /><br />The WHO/FIP joint statement -- engaging pharmacists in TB Care and Control -- urges TB programmes and pharmacy associations to engage pharmacists and use their untapped potential in the fight against tuberculosis.<br /><br />This can be done by -- increasing awareness of TB, and refer people with symptoms to facilities with diagnosis and treatment; providing patient-centred treatment supervision to promote adherence and help prevent multidrug-resistant TB.<br /><br />It also advocates promoting the rational use of anti-TB medicines through: a) procuring and dispensing quality-assured medicines and fixed-dose combinations recommended by WHO b) prohibiting the sale of anti-TB medicines over the counter; supporting healthcare providers to rationalise and strengthen their TB management practices, FIP officials said.</p>