In Japan’s super-aged society, geriatric healthcare is primarily provided to older people in the latter stage of life who have multiple diseases, geriatric syndromes, and impaired activities of daily living, and who are frequently transported to hospital. These people require comprehensive medical care that targets multiple bodily organs and that takes account of their living environment.

Within this social context, geriatric pharmacy is a new academic field that has emerged in response to pressing pharmaceutical issues including polypharmacy. The Japanese Society of Geriatric Pharmacy (JSGP) was founded in January 2016 to advance the field of geriatric pharmacy by promoting the practice, research, and knowledge of pharmacotherapy for older people and by facilitating collaboration among our members and with related societies. Through these efforts, JSGP aims to further the development of geriatric healthcare in Japan and to contribute to society at large, and is expected to expand its presence in the future.

JSGP has established the “Geriatric Pharmacist Certification Program” with the goal of training pharmacists to provide appropriate pharmacotherapy to older people. This program provides accreditation to Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) and Board Certified Senior Geriatric Pharmacist (BCSGP) who train BCGPs. JSGP’s membership continues to grow each year, and now exceeds 1,700 members. I encourage you all to become a member of the JSGP and to become a BCGP so that you can play a valuable role in the future of geriatric healthcare.

Masahiro Akishita
President, JSGP