Mapping the FIP Nanjing Statements

Abstract

The International Pharmaceutical Federation’s Nanjing Statements set out 67 expectations across eight clusters to guide reform of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences education. They are intended to move systems from policy aspiration to routine, auditable practice through outcomes, assessment, experiential learning, educator development, quality assurance, and continuing professional development. To map how the Nanjing Statements are being used to improve pharmacy education and to identify the main challenges encountered during application. A literature review synthesised documents drawn from Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and authoritative grey literature. English-language items (2016–2025) that explicitly referenced the Nanjing Statements or demonstrated enactment of one or more Nanjing clusters were eligible. From an initial 512 records, 373 were excluded by year of publication, 18 were non English, 82 were irrelevant, and 9 were duplicates. Following full-text screening, 30 articles and official documents were included. Data were extracted systematically and analysed using thematic synthesis. Four major themes emerged, Curriculum adaptation and policy alignment: HICs primarily used the Statements as a validation/benchmarking tool, while LMICs pursued transformative curricular reform. Institutional utilisation for quality assurance and benchmarking: Nanjing and related FIP frameworks were increasingly applied in accreditation, CPD, and self-assessment. Barriers: resource constraints, faculty shortages, weak QA systems, and regulatory misalignment were identified as the most persistent challenges. Regional disparities: while HICs demonstrated incremental refinement, LMICs faced systemic obstacles but also showed innovation when reforms were tailored to local needs and supported by partnerships. The review highlights both the promise and limitations of the Nanjing Statements as a tool for global educational reform. They provide a shared vision, but their effectiveness depends on localisation, resource investment, and faculty development. Unless structural barriers are addressed, disparities in pharmacy education and workforce readiness will persist, undermining progress towards universal health coverage. Strengthening implementation through international collaboration, sustainable funding, and regulatory reform will be key to realising the full potential of the Nanjing Statements in shaping a globally competent pharmaceutical workforce.