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Medical journals get tough
The NPA looks to the future

Medical journals get tough

In a world where evidence now counts for so much, researchers in all health professions must welcome the decision by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors to block the publication of research papers if they believe the sponsors or funders of the research (often a pharmaceutical company) have had too big a part to play in the design of the study, the analysis of results and the ultimate decision to publish the paper. Certainly, The Journal supports the guidelines.

It would be refreshing if scientific and medical journals were always in a position only to carry papers and reports if their editors were completely confident that the conclusions drawn were always produced independently and without any external interference. When it comes to reporting Government findings or recommendations on medical and scientific research, often there are unvoiced concerns that the spin doctors have been at work and that policy is determined by factors other than the evidence. The handling of the BSE crisis by the previous administration and the foot-and-mouth epidemic by this Government are both instances that leave a slightly sour taste in the mouth. All too often, editors have no alternative but to follow the party line.

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The NPA looks to the future

The National Pharmaceutical Association’s five-year plan for its own activities, launched this week, seems to be a bit on the thin side. Of its six strategic objectives, two (reviewing its products and its range of products) seem to be the same thing, two (developing communication with members and with external bodies) seem to be the kind of thing which any organisation does anyway, and the final two (review the board structure and get Boots into NPA membership) are easy to say but difficult to achieve, even over five years.

“Community pharmacy faces a challenging but exciting future,” the strategy document announces. A report also published this week from Verdict identifies just how challenging a time it will be.

The strategy, unfortunately, offers little guidance on how exactly the NPA will be rising to this challenge. Much of the NPA document consists of lists of all the many services the NPA already provides to its members. But pharmacy organisations will need to do much more than that. They will need to adapt, perhaps merge, and reform if they are to represent the pharmacists who are left standing in five years’ time.

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