The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7300 p634
22 May 2004

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World health professions' leaders demand urgent action by all nations against HIV/AIDS pandemic

A plea to all national governments and health professionals to stop procrastinating on the HIV/AIDS pandemic has been issued by leaders of the world's pharmacy, nursing and medical professions.

Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, at the first symposium of the World Health Professions Alliance last weekend, the professions’ leaders unanimously passed a resolution urging governments to recognise the scale of the tragedy facing the world and to commit the necessary funds and resources to fight the pandemic without delay.

The meeting formulated and adopted the resolution after hearing from Stephen Lewis, United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. He told the assembly of leaders that no one can escape the carnage of AIDS and that the world desperately needs the advocacy of professional groups, especially from the health and social sciences disciplines. There is insufficient focus on AIDS, and the WHPA, if mobilised, could make an enormous impact, he said.

UK pharmacy was represented at the meeting by Gill Hawksworth and Ann Lewis, President and Secretary and Registrar, respectively, of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Also representing the UK were Beverly Malone, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, and Vivienne Nathanson, director of professional activities at the British Medical Association. Representatives from more than 60 countries countries attended.

Speaking to The Journal after the meeting, Dr Hawksworth said that the WHPA leadership symposium was an important milestone for collaboration between the health professions. She added: “I strongly support the resolution, the most important outcome of this meeting. The pharmacy profession has an important part to play in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the Society will continue to support this role.”

The World Health Professions Alliance was established in 1999 by the International Pharmaceutical Federation, the World Medical Association and the International Council of Nurses (www.whpa.org). A report of its inaugural meeting will appear in next week’s issue of The Journal.