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Letters to the Editor
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General election
Push pharmacy forward
From Mr H. Patel, MRPharmS
I read with interest the health policies news
feature (PJ, 9 April, p416)
and particularly liked the table of key features of the three main political
parties’ manifestos. In due course it would be useful to read what
the parties think of pharmacy in general and community pharmacy in particular
because the public has spoken loud and clear about its support for the
community pharmacy network.
It is at this general election time that pharmacists need to be active.
They must press candidates in all constituencies to become sensitive to
pharmacists’ views. By seizing the opportunity pharmacists will be
speaking to potential members of Parliament who will be in “listening
mode”.
Influencing politicians is as much about relevance to meeting the public’s
needs and the politicians’ own needs as it is about timing of key
messages. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has produced a briefing paper
for potential candidates but I have not seen anything from any of the other
organisations as yet. I strongly believe that it is incumbent upon all
pharmacists and their representative bodies to get key messages about pharmacy
to all candidates standing in the general election.
I will be asking my local pharmaceutical committee to ensure that all candidates
in north east London constituencies are lobbied in the next few days. Control
of entry regulations will be reviewed in 2006 and, in a way, are being
reviewed at the moment. The Society and the National Pharmaceutical Association
have already considered the impact of the EU services directive that can
have an adverse impact on the pharmacy network. I hope all pharmacists
will seek lists of local candidates and contact them, particularly about
a need to increase professional roles to improve the heath of the local
public through community pharmacies.
Finally, there is at least one pharmacist standing in the general election.
Sandra Gidley, a Liberal Democrat, has done an excellent job as a parliamentarian
and has also been helpful to pharmacy. I am sure that all pharmacists would
wish her and other pharmacists standing in the general election all the
best in their quest to become MPs. Those who have some spare cash may also
want to donate some money to the pharmacists standing in the general election
to fund their campaigns. From past experience I know pharmacists have shown
willingness to help out in a small way but cumulatively many small donations
can be helpful to pharmacist candidates.
In short, let us participate in the democratic process and take steps to
influence the views of the potential MPs to serve the public and the profession
of pharmacy at a crucial time. Please remember that action is an antidote
to despair and gloom.
Hemant Patel
Secretary, North-East London Local Pharmaceutical Committee |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal