The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7254 p860
21 June 2003

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  Modernisation
  The Profession
  The Charter
  Drug tariff
  BNF
  Rural alliance

Letters to the Editor

Rural alliance

Need to maintain political independence

From Ms A. B. Prasad, FRPharmS

I was appalled at the notion that rural pharmacy might become associated with the Countryside Alliance (PJ, 14 June, p822). The Countryside Alliance is perceived as being an association opposed to the ban on hunting. This is a political issue having nothing whatsoever to do with pharmacy.

Pharmacy is a broad church: pharmacists come from many different walks of life and have varying political, moral and religious views. For my part, during more than 40 years on the register I have never allowed my "outside" political views to impinge upon my central commitment to pharmacy as my profession. It would be a backward step were pharmacy to dabble in unrelated political matters.

Moreover, since the Office of Fair Trading proposal affects both rural and urban populations their interests should not be separated. For example, a low-income urban mother would have great problems finding the bus fare to the nearest supermarket. Pharmacy as a profession is well-respected by all political parties and by the public at large — we need to keep it that way by maintaining our political independence.

 Anne Prasad
London NW3

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