"Pharmacy in the 21st century: the way forward" is the main theme for the International Pharmaceutical Federation's 2000 Pharmacy World Congress, which takes place in Vienna, Austria, from August 26 to 31. The meeting will be the 60th international FIP congress. The official congress language is English, with simultaneous translation available in selected sessions.
Plenary sessions The congress main programme includes plenary sessions on "The environment of practice", "The impact of new science and technology on pharmacy practice", "Structural issues and pharmacy practice", "Skill mix" and "The transforming power of information and communications technology". A special session on "The pharmaceutical sector in transition" focuses on developments in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Two forum sessions will look at smoking cessation and the involvement of pharmacists in outreach health programmes. A workshop session on "Value by pharmacists" will examine preventable drug-related morbidities, and a working group presentation on guidelines for good storage practices.
Six update lectures will cover diabetes, HIV infection, asthma, Parkinson's disease, "Do we need drugs for pleasure?" and "Gender specifics".
Sectional meetings The community pharmacy section has organised a full-day continuing education programme on "Applying evidence to real people", for which members must register separately. It has also arranged a session on community pharmacy trends and developments.
The hospital pharmacy section is holding sessions on the new environment of practice, the impact of new technology on practice and the role of hospital pharmacists in partnership with others.
Subjects for discussion by the industrial pharmacy section include barrier isolation techniques and international harmonisation of quality characteristics for parenterals - the latter jointly with the laboratories and medicines control section, which also has a session on aspects of good control laboratory practice.
The academic pharmacy section is arranging a faculty tour.
Topics for consideration by the pharmacy information section include the role of the internet in consumer self-care, and the provision of information on the comparative risk and benefits of medication.
There will also be meetings of all the other FIP sections - administrative pharmacy, clinical biology, medicinal and aromatic plants, military and emergency pharmacy, and laboratories and medicines control services.
All sections will have sessions for the presentation of short oral communications and posters, for which intending contributors must submit abstracts by March 1.
Other sessions Other major sessions will include an opening ceremony, a four-day exhibition, a history of pharmacy symposium and excursion, and an assembly of pharmacists, at which FIP members will be able to take part in policy formulation.
Congress fees The registration fee for FIP members is Euro400 for bookings up to May 1 and then Euro500 until August 1. For non-members, the fee is Euro650 until May 1 and then Euro750. For bona fide students and recent graduates (up to five years after graduation), the fee is Euro150 until May 1 and then Euro200. After August 1, bookings will only be accepted on site, with a fee of Euro800 for both members and non-members and Euro250 for students and recent graduates. Accompanying persons pay Euro200, whatever the date of booking. The additional fee for participation in the community pharmacy section continuing education programme is Euro100 for section members and Euro130 for non-members, increasing to Euro150 for all participants after August 1.
Accommodation Hotel accommodation may be booked in advance at allocated hotels. The rates per night, including breakfast and VAT, range from Euro89.39 to EEuro276.16 (double room) and Euro66.13 to Euro232.55 (single room).
Social programme The congress social programme will include a welcome reception in the Rathaus (city hall), a concert, section dinners/lunches and a gala dinner (Euro120).
Excursions During the congress there will be a variety of optional half-day and one-day tours. One-day and two-day post-congress tours have also been arranged.
Further details Registration forms and copies of the programme are available from FIP Congresses and Conferences, PO Box 84200, NL-2508 AE The Hague, The Netherlands (tel 00 31 70 302 19 82; fax 00 31 70 302 19 98; e-mail mireille@fip.nl). The FIP website (www.fip.nl/vienna) gives detailed up-to-date information and also allows on-line registration and abstract submission.