Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate

Olga Sierpniowska, Director of the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector’s Office, took part in the debate on Europe’s preparedness for security crises. The discussion focused on the resilience of supply chains, preventing shortages of medicinal products and the role of community pharmacies in national crisis response systems.

– Recent crises have shown that preparedness cannot be a document left on a shelf. It must be an operational system that has been tested and coordinated in advance and is understood by all those involved. Preparedness begins before a shortage, pandemic or other threat arises – when we determine who holds the information, who makes decisions and whom patients trust – emphasised Olga Sierpniowska.

One of the main topics of the panel was the role of community pharmacies in emergencies. Participants pointed out that the experience of recent years had confirmed their importance not only as places where medicines are dispensed, but also as easily accessible points of contact for patients.

– In Poland, pharmacies played a very practical role in maintaining access to medicinal products and supporting patients during periods of disruption. For many people, they were the first place they turned to for advice, an explanation of the situation or confirmation that information was reliable. Patients visit pharmacists not only to obtain a medicine, but also for help in understanding whether a product is available, whether an alternative can be used and how to continue treatment safely – said the Director of the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector’s Office.

The discussion also highlighted the need to integrate pharmacies more fully into national crisis response plans.

– Pharmacies cannot be treated as a reserve to be activated only when the system is under pressure. They should be regarded as part of the health security infrastructure and included in crisis plans, information-sharing systems, and educational and preventive activities – noted Olga Sierpniowska.

The panellists also identified challenges facing European healthcare systems, including fragmented decision-making processes, inadequate information flows and the need to further strengthen the resilience of medicinal product supply chains.

– In a crisis, a system is only as strong as its weakest link connecting data, decisions and communication. This is why public trust, clear messages and cooperation among all participants in the healthcare system are just as important as the availability of medicines – she added.

Referring to the role of pharmacists, the Director of the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector’s Office highlighted the particular value of the trust enjoyed by the profession.

– The accessibility of pharmacies is not solely geographical. It also has a relational dimension. Patients trust pharmacists because they are close at hand, accessible and able to explain in simple terms matters that the system often communicates in complex language. This trust is a public asset that must be protected, supported and used responsibly – concluded Olga Sierpniowska.