The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7228 p867
14 December 2002

Society summary

Society in Scotland launches 2003 election manifesto

A pharmacy manifesto for Scotland, "Putting people at the heart of their own health", prepared in anticipation of the May 2003 Scottish parliamentary elections, was launched by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland on 10 December at a special reception for Members of the Scottish Parliament at the Society's House in Edinburgh.

The 12-page manifesto contains radical proposals that put pharmacists at the core of health care provision. MSPs were told by RPSiS Chairman David Thomson that. although 94 per cent of Scotland's population use a community pharmacy every year, pharmacists can contribute even more to health care delivery if given the opportunity. "Pharmacists are proud of being so close to patients and their carers, and have much to offer," he said.

"Putting people at the heart of their own health" outlines six key measures that would enable pharmacists to contribute more effectively to public health care, to make a difference to the health and well-being of the people of Scotland:

• Your pharmacist should be your adviser on medicines

• Community pharmacies should be designated and promoted as NHS Scotland walk-in centres

• Pharmacists should prescribe

• Pharmacists' role in reducing substance abuse should be extended

• Pharmacy should have an input into the development of sexual health strategy

• Pharmacies should be front-line health promoters for NHS Scotland

Pharmacists working in communities and hospitals, across Scotland were also represented at the reception, allowing MSPs to discuss the manifesto in detail as well as other issues of importance to their constituents.