In its search for a new editor for The Pharmaceutical Journal, the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society has chosen not to restrict the job to pharmacists. The advertisement
for the post says only that the successful candidate will “ideally”
be a pharmacist. And while candidates are expected to have skills and experience
in various areas, there is no mention of a background in pharmacy or even a
knowledge of things pharmaceutical.
When even commercial publishers of pharmacy magazines choose to appoint pharmacists
as editors, because of their special insight into pharmacy, the Society’s
decision is surprising — although perhaps less so when one remembers that
the Secretary and Registrar post and the editorship of Martindale have both
been opened up to non-pharmacists in the recent past.
The possible appointment of a non-pharmacist Secretary and Registrar led to
much disquiet among the membership. Perhaps the Society should have asked the
audience before making its final decision in regard to The Journal — a
publication that has been edited by pharmacists ever since it was established
in 1841 by the Society’s founder, Jacob Bell.