The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7461 p71
21 July 2007

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Letters to the Editor

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All-Party Pharmacy Group offers a much broader vision

From Mrs H. J. Baker, MRPharmS

It is tempting to think that the Government’s view for the future of pharmacy is inspired by cell biology. The General Pharmaceutical Council will adopt the DNA role of control and direction, while the new pharmacy body will adopt the RNA role of following orders and doing the work. This model of pharmacy is narrow and seems to have been developed from considering what can be managed, manipulated and regulated by government.

In contrast, the “Future of pharmacy” report drawn up by the parliamentary All-Party Pharmacy Group offers a much broader vision. Although the report identifies many areas of concern and difficulty, it nevertheless presents a holistic view of what pharmacy is and could become.

Furthermore the APPG has succeeded, without embarrassment, in integrating pharmacy’s professional, NHS and business elements into its thinking.

Further evidence of the contrast between Government and APPG visions comes from the appendices of the APPG report. These record the organisations and individuals that gave evidence to the APPG and the list of more than 80 organisations serves as an illustration of just how diverse pharmacy is as an entity.

It is not just a list of special interest groups or specialists but a broad list of stakeholders that underpin the profession. It includes local pharmaceutical committees, primary care trusts, patient groups, manufacturers, retailers, retail organisations and the schools of pharmacy, as well as professional special interest groups.

This list will serve as a much better basis for future modelling of the profession than any new construct artificially created in response to Government thinking.

All those whose evidence contributed to the APPG report should continue to express their concerns and aspirations for the profession in the strongest possible terms.

Hazel Baker
President
National Association of Women Pharmacists

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