No excuse to be bored
For many people the workings of the European Union remain shrouded in mystery. Some readers will be aware, for example, that there is a move by leading EU members for the UK’s rebate to be taken away — although the Government intends to fight to retain it. Many more people will have experience of using the euro even though they may not be able to name all the countries in which it is legal tender.
But what is the EU all about? What EU legislation directly affects pharmacy?
Are there any changes in the offing? For those pharmacists who have shrugged
their shoulders to these questions — if not in a Gallic way, then in a
bored, British way — help is at hand. This week’s centre pull-out
(PDF 190K) from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is a concise, well-written explanation
of how the different administrative and legislative bits of the community work.
We also carry a News feature looking at the recent change to two directives covering
pharmacy (p642). And, far from being boring, these pieces are highly illuminating.
Legislation covering the movement of pharmacists and other professionals across
national borders is on the verge of changing. A new directive has recently been
adopted by the European Parliament which will become law in the UK, most likely
in the next couple of years. Most significantly, the legislation should provide
safeguards to patients across Europe so that they can only be treated by health
care professionals with a good grasp of the language spoken in the country in
which they wish to practise. (This will be a huge step forward over the existing
legislation, which is powerless in this regard; currently, ensuring that a practitioner
has a good command of the local language is an employment issue.)
So, for everyone who wonders if they should have an interest in the workings
of the European Union, this is the moment to find out.
Back to Top
|
Where was the party?
For only the second time since the establishment of the Pharmaceutical Society, a new-style Council was born at midnight on 24 May. (The first change took place in the 1930s when three Privy Council nominees joined the ranks for the first time.)
We will not rehearse the constitution of the new Council but simply remark
on how quiet the birth was. No 21-gun salute, no fireworks, not even
a paper bunting parade: as far as we can ascertain no one was present
at the appointed hour. We would have been delighted to report that champagne
corks popped and that there was singing and dancing in Lambeth High Street — if
such a party had taken place.
After all the trials and tribulations of the past two years, the moment
arrived and it was a moment to celebrate. A little belatedly, we raise
our glasses to the new Council.
Back to Top
|
The
Pharmaceutical Journal