Medication reviews during pregnancy in Germany, screening for breast cancer in Jordan, and supplementation programmes to prevent maternal anaemia in Tanzania were among the examples of pharmacist-led initiatives targeting women given by FIP at the 142^nd session of the World Health Organization’s Executive Board. At the meeting, held in Geneva, Switzerland, last week, FIP directed the board’s attention to the value of pharmacists in supplying emergency contraception and promoting  breastfeeding. 

The federation also raised again the issue of medicines shortages and the importance of a global system for shortages reporting as well as giving comment on the WHO’s general programme of work for 2019-2023, on behalf of the World Health Professions Alliance, highlighting, in particular, the topic of patient safety. The full statements can be accessed below: 

• WHO’s draft programme work 2019-23 (Agenda item 3.1)
• Global shortage of and access to medicines and vaccines (Agenda item 3.6)
• Strategy for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (Agenda item 4.3)