Issues
The European Register of Certified Pharmacologists as an initiative to support the profession of pharmacologist: the Italian experience
As of today, pharmacologists should have experience in the various stages of drug development in basic and clinical research, from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside. The recent WHO position paper on the role of Pharmacology in healthcare, teaching and research has clarified its positive impact on healthcare systems. Over the last 40 years, Pharmacology has advanced in European countries, where extensive activity has led to the constitution of the European Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (EACPT) and the Federation of European Pharmacological Societies (EPHAR). A program envisioned by EPHAR, The European Certified Pharmacologist (EuCP) initiative was developed jointly with EACPT in 2014, with the specific aim of identifying individuals working in the field of Pharmacology who excel in terms of educational standards, skills, experience and professional standing. European Certified Pharmacologists must have demonstrated that their competence profile, in addition to their personal specialized scientific expertise, encompasses expertise in all major fields of Pharmacology and that they have experience and practical knowledge in a broad spectrum of pharmacological techniques. To promote EuCP in Italy, the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) has established in 2018 a committee that worked on the definition of the Italian criteria for the admission of candidates to the program named “SIF-EuCP”. This initiative should stimulate a stronger position of Italian and European Pharmacology towards political entities, professional organizations, foundations and scientific stakeholders in gaining public support for pharmacology and awareness of the importance of this science in providing advice and expertise.
Impact statement
The SIF-EuCP initiative supports the European certification of health professional or academic pharmacologists to provide an official inventory that is accessible to public and private health institutions.
