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Letters to the Editor
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Pharmacy in Spain
Stay in the UK or say adios to your rights
From Mr M. J. M. Lord, MRPharmS
I would echo the concerns of Ricardo
Martinez Moreno-Davila (PJ, October
21, p482) with regard to the restrictions in place when applying for
a new pharmacy licence in Spain. The information pack issued by the Royal
Pharmaceutical Society regarding rights to work as a pharmacist in other
EU countries states that, once qualifications have been recognised in
another EU country, a pharmacist has the right to work as an employed
or self-employed pharmacist in that country.
When I visited the College of Pharmacy in Alicante I was told the probability
of my obtaining an opening licence was practically nil and was advised
either to buy an existing pharmacy or to open a parafarmacia (similar
to a drugstore but not allowed to sell any medicines). In 2005, I was
told, the Alicante region was preparing to issue 18 new licences, but
it already had over 130 pharmacists on the list waiting to apply. The
pharmacists chosen would be those with the most “points” gained
by various means, including experience and completed postgraduate training.
I was also told any postgraduate training I had completed in the UK would
not be eligible — so I would remain at the bottom of the all important
list.
There are an estimated 750,000 to 1,000,000 British expatriates living
permanently or semi-permanently in Spain, many of whom are elderly and
rely heavily on medicines prescribed and dispensed in Spain. No English
instructions or leaflets are available, so thousands of these patients
are unaware even of what their medicines are for, never mind dosages,
warnings or side effects. When in Spain I am inundated with queries from
family, friends, and friends of friends, wanting information on their
medicines.
As far as I am aware, there are no UK pharmacists practising professionally
in Spain, a stark contrast to the hundreds of Spanish pharmacists working
in the UK, not to mention those from other EU nations.
Pharmacies in Spain can sell many potent drugs over the counter, yet
I am unable to sell even paracetamol. So my advice is stay in the UK
or say adios to your rights.
Pharmacists who think this is unfair should contact
their MEP and say
so.
Michael Lord
North Shields, Tyne and Wear
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal