Society delegation visits Pfizer to hears industrial
pharmacists' concerns
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Pictured with Pfizer pharmacists
are (front row, from left) Dr Wicks, Mr Graham, Miss Richards, Dr
Hawksworth and Mr Curphey
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A small delegation from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
visited the pharmaceutical research and development department at Pfizer
in Sandwich, Kent, recently. This visit was organised at the invitation
of Industrial Pharmacists Group committee member Dr Steve Wicks.
Dr Gillian Hawksworth, the Society's Vice-President,
attended, accompanied by Peter Curphey, member of Council and chairman
of the Practice Committee, Nigel Graham, the Society's head of practice,
and Emma Richards, secretary to the IPG.
The purpose of the visit was to enable industrial
pharmacists to engage in a dialogue with representatives of the Council
of the Society in order to flag up current issues of importance for pharmacists
employed within the pharmaceutical industry. The day included a tour of
the site followed by an opportunity for a number of Pfizer pharmacists
to discuss issues of concern with the Society representatives. Issues
highlighted by the group included the need to promote careers in industry
among pharmacy students and the importance of encouraging pharmacists
towards careers as qualified persons.
Recognising that a significant sector of the members
of the IPG had voiced their concerns when the Industrial Pharmacist
newsletter was suspended in 2000, Dr Hawksworth and Mr Curphey used
the opportunity to ask Pfizer pharmacists what the Society and the IPG
could do to support industrial pharmacists. The delegation was pleased
to note that pharmacists present valued their membership of the Society,
and that pharmacists in industry find it useful to be able to draw upon
the professional advice available from the Society.
The day ended with a presentation which looked at
ways in which the industry can work with the National Health Service and
community pharmacists in pursuit of the goals contained within the NHS
national plans.
Noting the value of an opportunity to spend time
with members of a small but significant portion of the Society's membership,
Dr Hawksworth and Mr Curphey undertook to report back the issues that
were raised to the relevant sections within the Society.
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