The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7358 p82
16 July 2005

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· Adverse events
· Supermarket pharmacy
· Research
· Regulation of medicines
· OTC statins
· Pricing (2)
· Pharmacy practice
· CPD
· Reciprocity
· Registration examination
· Veterinary pharmacy
· The Society
· Birdsgrove House (5)

Letters to the Editor

Reciprocity

Antipodeans face ridiculous demands

From Mrs K. Carter, MRPharmS, and Mr K. Ball, MRPharmS

We have just read the article concerning antipodean pharmacists (PJ, 2 July, p10). Evidently those propounding the new measures have never worked with Australian or New Zealand pharmacists. We have used such pharmacists over a 10-year period and have never been disappointed with them. These pharmacists are generally much sounder clinically than UK locums. In addition, they are cheerful, have a great sense of humour, work hard, have a pleasant telephone manner and are a credit to the profession. These are not just our views but a consensus of all levels of staff working in the pharmacy.

Given current problems with recruitment, the lack of availability of antipodean pharmacists will severely hamper our ability to provide a high class clinical service. We trust that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society will be pleased to have instigated such a ridiculous set of demands on these excellent pharmacists.

Kathryn Carter
Deputy Chief Pharmacist
Ken Ball
Head of Corporate Services
West Cumberland Hospital,
Cumbria

Society had reason to sever South Africa

From Mr M. Goldin, MRPharmS

I do not know what standards are required of pharmacists who graduate in Australia or New Zealand but as an ex-South African, I do know a little about the standards required in that country (John Edmunds, PJ, 25 June, p789).

I have been told that academic standards have fallen dramatically across a large section of the education system.

There is serious cause for concern about standards and I can understand why the Royal Pharmaceutical Society needed to reassess the reciprocity arrangements with South African pharmacists.

Monty Goldin
London

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