Fresh start needed for new professional body
Pharmacy’s new professional body should be established on the
basis of a fresh start, rather than be constrained by the principles
or practice of existing organisations. So says the NHS Scotland Directors
of Pharmacy Group in its submission to the Clarke Inquiry (PDF 180K).
It suggests an independent chartered body should be created with objectives
that promote safe and effective use of medicines, advance the pharmacy
profession, and promote the science and practice of pharmacy.
The group “considers it vitally important that the new professional
body should have a federal structure and function which is fit for purpose
to serve both national (GB/UK) and devolved requirements. Failure to
recognise, represent and meet the common and particular needs of all
pharmacists in the devolved nations would be unacceptable”.
The directors also note a particular concern about the influence of multiple
pharmacy groups. “Employers should have no influence over the professional
body. Priorities for the new body must be profession-, patient- and public-related,
and not driven by the corporate needs of multiples,” it states.
National
Pharmaceutical Forum The NHS Scotland National Pharmaceutical
Forum believes that the new professional body must reflect devolution
(PDF 110K).
“Central
to success and membership subscription will be a clear recognition of devolved
administrations to promote regional autonomy and innovation within ever diverging
health systems across the UK,” it says.
The NPF comments that elements of the Society’s work should be preserved,
including publishing and work in promoting the science and practice of pharmacy,
and pharmaceutical science. |
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