Why Join PIPA - Now A Professional Membership Association

The benefits of PIPA membership

Professional accreditation
Journal
Training, meetings and conferences
Professional guidelines and standards
Web site

Every member of PIPA receives the PIPA journal, PIPELINE, quarterly. The journal includes news, meeting and conference reports and articles on professional issues - a great way to keep up to date with what is happening in our profession and follow the debate around contentious issues. Career opportunities are also featured and many advertisers are choosing the PIPA journal and web-site as the location of choice for job advertisements in pharmaceutical information and pharmacovigilance.

PIPA has developed a structured training programme; endorses two post-graduate courses, one on pharmacovigilance and the other on pharmaceutical information management; has a meetings programme that covers topical issues; and holds an annual conference. All members are eligible for discounted rates at PIPA meetings and conferences.

The Association develops professional guidelines and standards, including competency frameworks for pharmacovigilance and medical information.

Membership affords access to a members-only area of this web-site that provides additional information and services including details of meetings, courses, conferences, and those important career opportunities.

In the evolving regulatory environment in which many of us will be subject to external audit, it is essential to demonstrate professional skills and competencies. Attendance at appropriate courses, meetings and symposia are one way. Of equal importance will be membership of a relevant professional organisation - make that organisation PIPA.

Over the past 30 years, pharmacovigilance and pharmaceutical information management have developed into strategic functions at the national, regional and global level within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. They play a key role not only in the support of marketed therapies but in the development of therapies. Pharmacovigilance and pharmaceutical information management are now distinct professions in their own rights, requiring a unique set of skills and competencies.

PIPA is committed to continuing this process by promoting the professions of pharmacovigilance and pharmaceutical information management; supporting training and professional development; and encouraging networking.

PIPA is the only organisation that is specifically aimed at pharmacovigilance and pharmaceutical information management and dedicated to the professional development of its members.

Membership Categories

In July 2010, the membership categories were revised to reflect PIPA's professional status. Additionally, PIPA has introduced a new membership category to recognise those with many years of experience and reference expertise in medical information or pharmacovigilance.

ASSOCIATE MEMBER. Entry level for those with no or little relevant work experience. Also for thos working in affiliated areas, such as suppliers, database vendors, recruitment agents. No minimum education specified. No requirement to commit to CPD. Associate Members are permitted to vote but not sit on the committees. Can sit on a working party with the approval of main Committee. Post nominal - not applicable.

MEMBER. Equivalent to the current Full Membership category. Members should have a degree, ideally in a life science, a nursing or pharmacy (e.g. pharmacy technician) qualification; the equivalent to two years full time work experience in medical information and/or pharmacovigilance; and 40 CPD points acquired over the preceding two year period. Associate Members must submit an application to become a Member, which must accompanied by a completed CPD Record card. Annual membership renewal must include a declaration, explicit or implicit, of a commitment to CPD, specifically, to attain 40 CPD points per rolling two year period. Post nominal - MPIPA.

FELLOW. New category, created to recognise those with many years work experience in medical information and/or Pharmacovigilance. Minimum of ten years full time work experience in medical information and/or pharmacovigilance. Members must submit an application to become a Fellow, which must be accompanied with evidence of their eligibility, e.g. abbreviated CV, CPD Record card for at least the last two years. Annual membership renewal must include a declaration, explicit or implicit, of a commitment to CPD, specifically, to attain 40 CPD points per rolling two year period. Post nominal - FPIPA.

HONORARY FELLOW. As currently, this remains the highest level of membership that can be attained. To be considered for Honorary Member status, the member would normally be expected to have attained fellowship status as well as to have demonstrated significant service to the Association. However, Honorary Fellow status could be conferred upon a member who has not yet attained Fellow status if their service to the Association was exceptional. Annual membership renewal must include a declaration, explicit or implicit, of a commitment to CPD, specifically, to attain 40 CPD points per rolling two year period. Post nominal - HonFPIPA. Upon retirement, Honorary Fellows can adopt the post nominal HonFPIPA (ret).

OVERSEAS MEMBERS - are those who are involved in pharmaceutical information or pharmcovigilance but reside outside the UK. They may apply for membership as appropriate.

Whilst PIPA encourages all information professionals working in the pharmaceutical industry to become members, membership is entirely voluntary. There is no actual requirement to be a member of PIPA in order to carry out the duties of provision and management of information. Policy on membership of PIPA varies from company to company, although many do recognise and support PIPA as the professional organisation for information professionals in the industry.

Membership rates in force from April 2008 are:

UK £60
OVERSEAS £75 payable in pounds sterling

Policy on payment of PIPA membership fees also varies from company to company. Many companies pay the membership fees on behalf of all or some of the staff working within their information units, but this is not universal. If you have any questions about payment of membership fees you should discuss them with your personnel department or department head. Membership of PIPA is personal and non-transferrable, except in exceptional circumstances and with the agreement of all concerned.

Please make cheques payable to 'PIPA'.

To join PIPA, please complete our online membership form.