The potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to boost efficiency, optimise medication safety and improve personalised care in pharmacy is the subject of a new statement of policy from the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP).
From identifying patients at high risk of non-adherence to providing real-time decision support and optimising chronic disease management, AI can help pharmacists make better-informed decisions that benefit patients and health systems alike, FIP said.
But this Statement of policy on artificial intelligence in pharmacy practice also highlighted the importance of integration being responsible, ethical and rooted in robust regulation.
It calls for strong safeguards to protect patient privacy and data security, address bias and ensure transparency so that AI tools complement rather than replace pharmacists’ expertise.
Leveraging AI for patient benefit
Within this context, FIP’s recommendations set out clear actions for governments, regulators, technology developers, educators and pharmacy organisations to ensure AI adoption is transparent, equitable and sustainable.
The recommendations stress the need to redesign pharmacy workforce roles by shifting pharmacists from repetitive and administrative tasks to patient-centred services, clinical consultation and AI-augmented decision-making. Upskilling pharmacists is a key requirement for achieving this, FIP said.
The importance of leveraging the clinical applications of AI is also highlighted, including employing AI-powered therapeutic drug monitoring with pharmacist oversight, using machine learning algorithms to support pharmacogenomics and precision medicine, and implementing robotics and intelligent systems to improve administrative tasks such as inventory management.
AI will also play a role in leveraging predictive analytics to identify patients at high risk for adverse drug reactions, poor treatment outcomes, medication non-adherence or hospital readmissions, FIP said, which will allow for more proactive care interventions.
Commenting on the publication, Lars-Åke Söderlund, FIP vice president, chair of the FIP Technology Advisory Group and co-chair of the policy committee, said: ‘AI is already transforming how pharmacists work, from automating routine tasks to supporting more advanced clinical decision-making and even accelerating drug discovery.
‘This statement sets out a vision for harnessing the benefits of AI while ensuring that the human judgement, professional autonomy and trusted relationships that define pharmacy are not compromised.’
Pharmacists’ role in AI implementation
Among the 11 recommendations outlined specifically for pharmacists, FIP encourages active participation in AI-supported practice transformation by staying updated on technologies and their applications, collaboration with AI developers and multidisciplinary teams to ensure tools meet clinical needs and the evaluation and implementation of AI systems within their practice.
The need to maintain accountability, confidentiality and autonomy for decisions supported by AI is also highlighted to ensure patient safety and quality of care.
Dr Whitley Yi, co-chair of the policy committee said: ‘Pharmacists must remain accountable for patient care and safety. We must be involved in the design, implementation and oversight of AI tools to ensure they are relevant, reliable and truly serve patients’ best interests.’
A number of commitments from FIP are also set out in the policy statement, including providing leadership and guidance on professional and ethical questions around AI, supporting member organisations with resources and training, and advocating for pharmacists’ vital role in an AI-enabled health system.
The publication of this new statement of policy follows the launch of FIP’s AI toolkit for pharmacy practice in April.
In October 2023, FIP published an updated policy statement on the strategic development of medicines information. It noted the rise in medicine misinformation, driven in part by AI, and set out recommendations for how pharmacists can lead the dissemination of quality information for the benefit of patients and medicine users.
Pharmacists urged to embrace change
The publication of the Statement of policy on artificial intelligence in pharmacy practice was announced at the 83rd FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
In his opening remarks at the Congress, FIP president Paul Sinclair encouraged pharmacists to embrace change.
‘The global pharmacy field is rapidly evolving with technology, changing healthcare, and growing recognition of pharmacists’ key role in patient-centred universal health coverage,’ he said. ‘Now is the time for pharmacists to embrace these opportunities. Our new strategic plan calls for bold action to harness pharmacists’ diverse skills and redefine the profession for a bright future.’
