The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7285 p154
7 February 2004

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  Dose alteration
  CD regulations
  New contract
  Clinical trials
  Dispensing
  Developing countries
  SOS action
  The Charter

Letters to the Editor

Developing countries

Promote pharmacy that is relevant to local need

From Mr J. A. Patel, MRPharmS

I sympathise with Hemant Patel’ s notion of a “transfer fee” for the export of intellectual capital by developing countries to richer nations (PJ, 31 January, 118). However, I am afraid it will not work because there is a more basic need for developing nations. We live in a globalised world economy where rich nations will continue to suck in trained people with the poorer countries being the losers.

Also I do not see pharmacy as a priority for poorer nations, where investment in the most basic services such as water, sanitation and housing are lacking. Those with levels of qualifications demanded in the West would find no infrastructure in their own countries to make use of those qualifications and therefore look to sell their services abroad.

Lives are lost through water-borne diseases eradicated in the West a hundred years ago and that is where there is urgent need. Building a pharmacy in a slum is of no use to the slum dwellers. At best it helps sell the products of globalised pharmaceutical industry for profit; at worst it raises expectations of magic cures for a people who really need basic education and help with clean water and sanitation. We should promote pharmacy which is relevant to the needs of local populations.

Jayesh Patel
London SW14

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