Student APhA

Student

APhA

The International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation

The International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF), with ten member countries, was founded in 1949. The countries agreed to support a professional, nonpolitical organization whose goal was unity among various national pharmacy student groups. Today the membership is made up of over 30 national organizations, including groups from Australia, West Germany, Ghana, Spain, Turkey, Poland and the United States (SAPhA). The organizing of IPSF was fostered by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) which is IPSF's parent organization. For every member of SAPhA, dues are paid by the national organization to the IPSF treasurer so all SAPhA members have the right to participate in IPSF activities. Some of the aims of IPSF are to establish a permanent form of contact between national and local associations and societies of pharmaceutical students; to promote an exchange of ideas and encourage international understanding by correspondence, visits and exchange students, and to encourage social and cultural activities between its members. The executive body of IPSF includes a president, secretarygeneral, treasure , and chairmen of information and education, publications, development fund and student exchange. Each chairman is concerned with a specific area of IPSF activity and development of these areas relate directly to the goals of IPSF. The president, besides being coordinator of all IPSF activities and the official liaison with other organizations, is also responsible for enlargement of enrollment with the aid of the commissioners. The commissioners are the "salesmen" of IPSF. Appointed annually by the executive body, they promote the activities of IPSF in countries which are not members. The commissioners first contact the nonmember country with an introductory letter explaining IPSF and inquiring as to the type of pharmacy students' organizations present in the country. They then attempt to organize a national pharmaceutical students' association and have the association apply for IPSF membership. The areas for which commissioners are responsible are Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Far East. Some of the people with the most responsibility in IPSF are the liaison secretaries who are representatives of IPSF in member countries. They are nominated at national conventions or appointed. Liaison secretaries are most effective when they can delegate responsibilities to national or local committees which coordinate the activities of IPSF in their countries. The general assembly is the ruling body of IPSF. The sessions of the general assembly are held during the annual IPSF Congress with officer reports, old and new business, election of officers, and consideration of changes in the Constitution. One vote is allowed each national association upon payment of IPSF dues. All other organizations that are members of IPSF are given an associate membership 58

Journal of the AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION ~

granting them speaking privileges at the general assembly. Individuals with a specific interest in pharmacy unity can become associate members. These are usually recent graduates who became involved in IPSF as students and wish to stay involved. The decisions of the general assembly are the directives for the executive body for the coming year. Meetings, symposia, receptions, visits to pharmacies and factories and social activities form the congress program, enabling participants to observe and study pharmacy organization in the host country, make many friends from around the world and exchange ideas of pharmacy study and practice. At the 1972 IPSF Congress held at the University of Jerusalem, Israel, each executive member gave a report of his yearly activities. Special comment on the excellent work of the president, Veronica Davis, was made. She has strengthened IPSF by personal visits to member countries, improved contacts with FIP and the World Health Organization, and has gained invaluable aid and advice from the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. The chairman of information and education stated that IPSF reports were updated and distributed copies to members. These reports concern pharmaceutical education, student association structures and activities, and postgraduate opportunities. The development fund is collected to aid IPSF activities and students in developing countries. Obtained by donations, the fund aids the commissioners' work or brings a student from a developing country to the congress. The report at the congress indicated that much more money is needed than received. The status report of the Student Exchange System of IPSF stated that the exchange is functioning successfully but not to its fullest capacity. It is very hard to find hosts. Often, once a host is obtained, the student cancels his exchange. for various reasons, which may disappoint or offend the host. The exchange program is open to pharmacy students and recent graduates. There is a special booklet available concerning countries participating in the student exchange program. Further information is available from SAPhA, 2215 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20037. The proposed locations for future IPSF congresses are1973, Paris, France (July 21-29); 1974, South Africa; 1975, Spain; 1976, United States. Registered pharmacists also can participate in IPSF by serving as hosts in the exchange program, or by becoming associate members. Each student member is capable of specific input into IPSF, and I hope that this information will help you to understand the workings of IPSF. Teresa Marie Pete SAPhA-IPSF Liaison Secretary