EPF Overview

The main aims of the European Pharmacists Forum are to support a European and transversal approach to the profession, to bring together the 100,000 pharmacist customers of Alliance Boots to discuss new ideas and share key messages, as well as to facilitate positive dialogue with public authorities and manufacturers.

The President of the EPF is Joao Silveira, a practising pharmacist in Portugal and the owner of Farmacia Suissa. Joao is also Vice-President of the Portuguese national association of pharmacies (Associaçao Nacional das Farmácias - ANF) and has been a member of the European Pharmacists Forum for a number of years. The EPF has two Vice-Presidents: Frank Owens, a Scottish community pharmacist and Giancarlo Visini, who is also Vice-President of Federfarma Nazionale (the Italian National Federation of Pharmacists) and President of Sunifar (the Union of Rural Pharmacists in Italy). Ornella Barra, Board Member and Wholesale & Commercial Affairs Director of Alliance Boots, is responsible for relations with the EPF within the Group.

The Forum meets on a quarterly basis and is composed of representatives from the pharmaceutical healthcare sector, including customers and members of representative bodies or associations. The scale and nature of representation reflects the activities undertaken by Alliance Boots' Business Units.