Osteoporosis is a real public health issue because of its prevalence and its potentially serious consequences for the quality of life and life expectancy of the patients. The pharmacist is a major player in raising public awareness and contributing to prevention, early detection and pharmaceutical care of osteoporotic patients.

For these reasons, the Cespharm wanted to help pharmacists get involved in the fight against osteoporosis.

A working group was therefore set up in 2001, bringing together physicians specialized in osteoporosis, community pharmacists and clinical biologists, as well as representatives of the French Council of Pharmacists, the Ministry of Health, the CFES (now the INPES), the CNAMTS and universities.

Two technical sheets were published and distributed to pharmacists in 2001:

• Les marqueurs du remodelage osseux (Bone remodeling markers) - Dr. Garnero, Dr. Souberbielle,
• Le pharmacien et l’ostéoporose, (Pharmacist and osteoporosis) - Dr. Fontana, Pr. Delmas, updated in 2007 (Dr. Burlet, Pr. Thomas, Pr. Delmas).

A continuing education program on osteoporosis for community pharmacists was established in 2002-2003, through a partnership between the Cespharm, the UTIP-FPC, the IOF and the GRIO. Given advances in the management of osteoporosis, an updated version of the training program was launched in December 2008.

The Cespharm also relays regularly towards pharmacists the World Osteoporosis Day (October 20th) by providing brochures and posters to inform the public and raise its awareness.