The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7258 p82-83
19 July 2003

This page
Reprint
Photocopy

PDF* 110K

  Unlicensed medicines
  Branding
  Patient packs
  Workforce
  Veterinary pharmacy
  Modernisation
  The Society
  CPD
  The Journal

Letters to the Editor

Modernisation

Pharmacy has never been viewed more positively

From Mr H. Patel, FRPharmS

Michael Burden rightly quotes me asking, "where is the bogeyman?" and he answers the question by saying that "the bogeyman, like the devil, is in the detail" (PJ, 12 July, p46).

But what does this mean? He says that he is struggling with the complex difficulties and that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Council's plan may need to be "reviewed and refined, even groomed" and he hopes that the Council will do that.

The Council will do that because it has been forced to do that by the membership and the new President has indicated that the Council must listen to the membership. The tone has changed, the timetables have been modified to a certain extent, complexities are breaking down and action to find a new solution has begun in earnest. The members must note it and thank those who raised the alarm.

However, Mr Burden says that "until and unless the profession puts the patient and the public at the centre of our thinking we shall rightly be accused of self-interest, and we will not enjoy the support of the public or Government — which we seem desperately to want and need".

This is nonsense. Some 24,000 community pharmacists and 5,000 hospital pharmacists are putting patients and the public first every day. If this were not the case, there would already have been an outrage since six million people visit our pharmacies daily. Public and parliamentary support for community pharmacy and against the Office of Fair Trading report has been unprecedented. Not a single parliamentarian has spoken out against community pharmacy in the press, in the Houses of Commons and Lords, or in committees.

Pharmacy has never been viewed more positively. Pharmacy will have a strong future as an independent profession free from Government meddling, but that independence will not remain if people are allowed to surrender it voluntarily.

New models for the Society as a representative and regulatory body will be produced that meet pharmacists', parliamentarians' and the public's expectations. More significantly, pharmacy has a good opportunity to capitalise on the goodwill it has generated.

Pharmacists seeking alternatives to "the prescribed medicine" are not reckless but they are proud, passionate and intelligent. Mr Burden, it is time to stand tall and go forward boldly in the knowledge that the public and their elected MPs are not in a mood to be booted around.

There is an expectation that the profession will improve its standards, and become more open, integrated and community spirited. It must embrace newer ideas on developing efficient and sustainable communities by getting increasingly involved in public health and community development.

While change is essential, there is a difference between a confident, proud and independent profession and a spineless Government lackey. Thankfully, most members of the Society appear to know the difference.

Hemant Patel
Member, Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Council and Modernisation Steering Group

Missing the point

From Mr M. Koziol, MRPharmS

Those pharmacists who attended this year's annual general meeting and special general meeting will not be surprised that Michael Burden continues to miss the point with regard to the modernisation of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (PJ, 12 July, p46).

As a body that sets and maintains standards, the Society is inherently an organisation that serves the public interest and it joins the ranks of literally hundreds of standard setting organisations in this country that do the same. However, as a body that maintains the honour and promotes the interests of all pharmacists it is unique, since there is no other organisation that singularly performs this role.

Little surprise then that the members believe strongly that the Society's original proposals are a pup. Let us all hope that when the Council announces its "soon to be revamped" proposals it succeeds in securing the broad support of the membership.

For if it does not then the Society will be unable to proceed.

Mark Koziol
Birmingham

Send your letter to The Editor

Previous Topic (Veterinary pharmacy)
Next Topic (The Society)