The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7476 p488
3 November 2007

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Local response may be lost if PSNI subsumed

Pharmacists in Northern Ireland are concerned that if the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland is subsumed into the new London-based organisations, its ability to respond to local issues will be lost.

Speaking at a recent annual general meeting of the PSNI, its president, Raymond Anderson, said: “There are core differences between the regulatory environment in Northern Ireland and Great Britain — these need to be factored into any decision about the future of pharmacy locally.”

He added that Northern Ireland’s more integrated approach to health and social services needs to be considered, along with the existence of an independent inspectorate and the implications of Northern Ireland being the only part of the UK to share a land border.

The PSNI has made a formal presentation to the Northern Ireland Assembly Health Committee stressing the need to consider carefully the implications of change. Mr Anderson commented: “The society was encouraged by the response it received from the health committee and was heartened by the minister’s commitment that he had not yet made up his mind on the best way forward for pharmacy in Northern Ireland.”

Five working groups to assess the implications of the White Paper on health professional regulation have been established by the PSNI. It expects that the groups will conclude their work by summer 2008.