Turkish Pharmacists' Association

Turkish Pharmacists' Association
Name	Turkish Pharmacists' Association
Formation	1956
Headquarters	Ankara
Region served	Turkey

Turkish Pharmacists' Association is the national professional body representing pharmacists in the Republic of Turkey. It functions as a corporate organization for registered pharmacists, interacting with institutions such as the Ministry of Health (Turkey), the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and international organizations including the World Health Organization and the International Pharmaceutical Federation. The Association engages with stakeholders like the Turkish Medical Association, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, and the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines on matters of pharmaceutical regulation, patient safety, and professional standards.

History

The Association traces its origins to mid-20th century reforms in the Republic of Turkey under the leadership period following İsmet İnönü and during the era of Adnan Menderes when professional organizations expanded. Its 1956 formation occurred amid contemporaneous institutions such as the Republican People's Party (Turkey), the Justice Party (Turkey, 1961) milieu, and legislative frameworks shaped by the Turkish Civil Code and later health legislation like the Social Security Law (Sosyal Güvenlik Kanunu). Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the Association navigated changes during administrations of Turgut Özal, Süleyman Demirel, and Bülent Ecevit, responding to pharmaceutical market liberalization, interactions with the World Trade Organization, and alignment with European Union directives during accession talks. In the 21st century the Association engaged with public health crises under cabinets led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and coordinated with agencies such as the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency and international partners including the European Medicines Agency.

Organization and Governance

The Association is structured with provincial pharmacist chambers modeled similarly to professional chambers like the Chamber of Architects of Turkey and coordinated by a central executive board comparable to leadership in the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey. Governance involves elected delegates, plenary assemblies, an executive committee, and disciplinary boards akin to procedures used by the Bar Association of Turkey. Key interactions include liaison with the Ministry of Health (Turkey), oversight from the Council of State (Turkey) on administrative disputes, and cooperation with regulatory entities such as the Turkish Competition Authority regarding pharmaceutical market conduct.

Membership and Professional Services

Membership comprises licensed pharmacists trained at institutions like Istanbul University Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University Faculty of Pharmacy, Ege University Faculty of Pharmacy, and Hacettepe University Faculty of Pharmacy. The Association provides services similar to professional bodies including continuing professional development, malpractice guidance, and collective bargaining comparable to unions such as the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions. It interacts with healthcare providers including Hacettepe Hospital, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, and the Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital for integration of pharmaceutical care, and engages with patient organizations such as the Turkish Cancer Society and the Turkish Diabetes Foundation.

Roles in Public Health and Policy

The Association plays a policy advocacy role on issues intersecting with the Ministry of Health (Turkey), the Supreme Council of Radio and Television (RTÜK) for public information campaigns, and international partners like the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund. It contributes to health policy discussions on reimbursement with the Social Security Institution (Turkey), formulary decisions influenced by the Turkish Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, and emergency response coordination alongside the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD). Public campaigns have involved collaboration with organizations such as the Turkish Red Crescent and alignment with initiatives from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Education, Training, and Accreditation

The Association interfaces with higher education regulators such as the Council of Higher Education (Turkey) and medical faculties at universities like Marmara University, Dokuz Eylül University, and Karadeniz Technical University to influence pharmacy curricula. It organizes continuing education, certification, and accreditation programs influenced by standards from the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations and the International Pharmaceutical Federation. Training partnerships have included collaborations with public health institutions such as the Public Health Institution of Turkey and specialist societies like the Turkish Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

Pharmaceutical Services and Activities

Pharmacy services under the Association’s guidance cover community pharmacy practice in provinces from Istanbul to Antalya, hospital pharmacy operations in centers such as İzmir and Bursa, compounding, pharmacovigilance in coordination with the Turkish Pharmacovigilance Centre, and supply chain matters involving distributors like İEİS-member companies and manufacturers represented in associations such as the Turkish Pharmacists Association's commercial interlocutors. It engages with the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association on industrial pharmacy issues and liaises with procurement entities including state hospitals and private chains. The Association has participated in vaccination campaigns alongside the Ministry of Health (Turkey) and emergency medicines supply coordination with the General Directorate of Health Services.

Controversies and Legal Issues

The Association has been involved in legal disputes and controversies touching administrative law adjudicated by the Constitutional Court of Turkey and the Council of State (Turkey), challenges over governance similar to disputes in other professional chambers like the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects, and tensions with governmental measures affecting autonomy that echo conflicts seen with the Turkish Medical Association. Contentious topics have included pricing and reimbursement negotiations with the Social Security Institution (Turkey), regulatory compliance issues involving the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency, and internal governance disputes paralleling cases in organizations such as the Bar Association of Istanbul.

Category:Pharmacy in Turkey Category:Medical and health organizations based in Turkey