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Parallel imports

Let them read Greek!

From Mr M. A. Reynolds, MRPharmS

It appears that the Department of Health is not concerned about the lack of translation on calendar packs imported under parallel importing regulations, particularly in respect of the days of the week, which appear in many different languages, including Greek.

I have taken the matter up with the Medicines Control Agency. It has informed me that, apart from some calendar packs which are deemed to be important and for which days of the week must be in English, all other packs are controlled by EU regulations and translations of days of the week are not a requirement. The regulations apparently also state that the UK Government cannot overrule the regulations.

The Department of Health constantly says it is supporting human rights for the whole population and has recently singled out the vulnerable elderly for special treatment. What support is this? The MCA states it is doing its best and is attempting to persuade importers to overlabel, but that it must uphold the PI regulations. What sort of nonsense is this? Just because something is legal does not mean it is correct; it is certainly not professional. Deplorable is a word that comes to mind. My local general practitioners agree with me.

What sort of world are we in? The EU obviously holds all our vulnerable people in complete contempt. I have written to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Professional Standards Directorate. Although the matter is outside the remit of the Society I believe that we have a duty towards vulnerable people and I have asked the Society to raise the question with the Department of Health on their behalf.

Following correspondence with both the Department of Health and the MCA, I have taken the matter up with my local member of Parliament. He has now tabled a written parliamentary question. Can this Government honestly answer to the public — “Let them read Greek!”

Michael Reynolds
Christchurch, Dorset

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