The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7256 p2
5 July 2003

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Safeguarding the future [more]
Spreading the message [more]

Safeguarding the future

Even those pharmacists who have followed step by step the unfolding drama of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's modernisation programme could be forgiven for being confused at times. There has been such a plethora of reports, new government bodies, legislation and regulations it is not surprising that it is hard to keep on top of all developments. After all, modernisation of the Society is just for starters — it is not as if all is serene and unchanging in the wider health service.

The Society has made one big decision in recent weeks, and that is to abandon — at least for the time being — the quest for charitable status that was, for so many pharmacists, one development too many. A new Charter is another matter. There is a view that parts of the existing Charter have outlived their usefulness and that many improvements should be made to it to ensure that the pharmacy profession is best set up for the early decades of the 21st century.

This week, The Journal publishes the existing Charter together with a draft of one that could replace it. This is a repeat of the exercise at the end of March. It is hoped that, following discussions at the annual general meeting, the roadshows and branch meetings that have been held to help members understand the implications of the new Charter, as well as the debate at the special general meeting on 1 June, that they are now better informed.

With that in mind a feedback form is also being distributed with this issue, inviting comments about the draft Charter. The draft is not perfect, but it is a first attempt at producing a document that will serve the Society and the profession well in the future. This process of consultation will only work if members respond — if they like it or hate it. Now is the time for members to make their views known.

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Spreading the message

Last week The Pharmaceutical Journal celebrated another year's Pharmaceutical Care Awards (pp15–18). As ever, the standard of initiatives was high, illustrating the contribution pharmacists can make to improving patient care. The pharmacy profession has known for years what it can achieve. The next challenge is to ensure that members of other health professions know as well and that they turn to pharmacists to provide the services they cannot provide themselves.

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