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	The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 269 No 7215 p358-361 14 September 2002	This page Reprint Photocopy
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The Profession

Health education should begin at school

Pharmacists are underpaid and undervalued

Pharmacy's poor public image

Health education should begin at school

From D. J. Fallon, MRPharmS

It was interesting to see the indignation of Barry Wright (PJ, 31 August, p279) when he observed that MORI, an independent organisation, classified pharmacists as "non-manual" workers, a standard which is two levels below professionals.

It is painful to realise that we have failed to maintain our status in society, especially when we spend so much time convincing fellow pharmacists, and the Government, that we are full of new ideas and doing an excellent job. When will our leaders appreciate that directing our energies towards further education only generates an illusion of improving standards because, for a qualified pharmacist, there is only a marginal increase in useful knowledge, and the more important priority should be providing pharmacists with summary advice about important changes. I predict that an audit of the quantity of paperwork currently being generated each month would produce a result of "overwhelming".

I question patients to discover their levels of comprehension and I am often shocked by the failings revealed. I am ashamed at the poor quality of patient information leaflets, in terms of design and text size, and I am alarmed at the transient nature of health promotions. Effective health education should begin at school, perhaps with pharmacist involvement, and then children would be inclined to exercise more, eat more sensibly, and become less involved in alcohol and drugs. Surely prevention is better than cure. It is no surprise to me that, considering the present quality of education, the demands upon the National Health Service are becoming excessive, and the public treat us with little respect, even to the extent of buying medicines from a hardware store then coming to us for advice.

Dennis Fallon
Birmingham

Pharmacists are underpaid and undervalued

From Mr M. W. Jackson, MRPharmS

I applaud Barry Wright's letter (PJ, 31 August, p279), in which he criticises the MORI classification published in The Times, for describing their classification of pharmacists as "non-manual" workers, putting us two levels below professionals and one above lorry-drivers and security officers.

Later in his letter he urges our Society to intensify its promotional campaign to heighten public awareness regarding the importance of the pharmacist's role. I can say to Mr Wright that for the past 10 years at least I have been urging the Society to do something about promoting pharmacy, without the slightest degree of success. In my opinion the Society is less than effective in promoting to the public the valuable work we do. We are underpaid and undervalued by everyone, including the Government.

Maurice Jackson
Brent knoll, Somerset

Pharmacy's poor public image

From Ms L. Y. A.-M. H. Al-Ayyadi, MRPharmS

I totally agree with Barry Wright (PJ, 31 August, p279). I, as a pharmacist, object to being classed as a "non-manual" worker by MORI, one level above lorry drivers and security officers, and I am sure other members agree with my views. The majority of our customers think of us as no more than shopkeepers and are surprised to find out that we are university educated professionals. What is the Society's PR department going to do about the poor public image of its members?

Loulwa Al-Ayyadi
Nant Peris, Caernarfon

JEAN-PIERRE MOSER, head of public relations, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, replies:

Following the report in The Times, the Society contacted MORI to take issue with its classification of pharmacy. MORI explained that the social class categories that it uses are based on those drafted by the Market Research Society. In turn the MRS has advised that in its current classification system pharmacy spans the social class categories of A/B/C1. The Society has made its concerns known to the MRS which is reviewing its classifications.

In response to the separate point about the public's perception of pharmacy, this will not depend solely on the outputs of the Society's PR unit but on members of the public's own experience of the profession as pharmacists' roles develop.

The Society does exercise much effort in raising the profile of the profession as a whole through its work with the media at both a local and national level. We also raise awareness through exhibitions, leaflets and by running regular health information campaigns jointly with other pharmacy groups and organisations, including the National Health Service and Doctor Patient Partnership.

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