The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7481 p659
8 December 2007

Society summary

Society continues work to lobby Government on pharmacy issues

A visit to a pharmacy by the Minister of State for Public Health, Dawn Primarolo MP, is being arranged so that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society can demonstrate pharmacy’s role in primary health care.

Speaking after attending the most recent meeting of the All-Party Pharmacy Group in the House of Commons (PJ, 1 December 2007, p611), President of the Society, Hemant Patel, said: “These events are important because we give first hand experience of issues that affect pharmacy to those who are deciding its future.”

The APPG meeting, held last month, was the first in a series of engagements expected with Ms Primarolo to discuss issues surrounding the future of the profession. Mr Patel commented: “We have pressed the minister on a number of points made by our members, some of which she has clearly accepted.”

He said the Society would continue to request a review of practice-based commissioning and for assurance that changes in the distribution process for the global sum will not result in more delay in essential payments to pharmacists. Another issue raised with the minister at the meeting was continuing professional development.

“We have a commitment from the minister to continue [the] dialogue with us on the issues raised and we will expect the Government to take our views into account as they introduce the new legislation required to enable our profession to take a greater role in primary care provision,” Mr Patel added.

Ms Primarolo has also accepted an invitation to speak at the Society’s Council dinner this month, to be held in central London.