Community pharmacists are highly trained, expert healthcare professionals who work at the heart of communities across the world. They are frontline health workers and clinicians with expert knowledge in the safe and effective use of medicines, and are well placed to advice patients on the management of all manner of every day health conditions.

Yet in many countries, the potential of community pharmacists is never fully realised. They are often poorly integrated into public health systems and struggle to access public funding to strengthen patient care as a result. Compared to other healthcare workers, training for community pharmacists and formal commissioning pathways are less readily available and accessible.

The Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) is committed to ensuring improved patient access to safe, effective medicines and improving health outcomes by upskilling, educating and empowering pharmacists around the 56 countries of the Commonwealth. To that end, our Advancing Community Pharmacy initiative is a new OPEN ACCESS project by the CPA Academy to showcase examples of what empowered community pharmacists can achieve, hoping to inspire colleagues around the world through peer learning and supporting advocacy for expanded pharmacy roles in our communities.