News
11 October 2006
The third EPF of 2006
The third European Pharmacists Forum of 2006 was held in Barcelona on 11 & 12 October 2006.
The two-day Barcelona meeting - the first to be held under the sponsorship of Alliance Boots WSCA - was opened by Elvire Kuyck, EPF President, who welcomed delegates to the event before handing over to Ornella Barra, Wholesale and Commercial Affairs Director of Alliance Boots. Ornella announced the resignation for personal reasons of Antonino Fiore from the EPF, before giving an update on Alliance Boots, which was formed following the merger of equals between Alliance UniChem and Boots Group.
Carrying on the theme of the last EPF in Sardinia, Elvire Kuyck gave a presentation on the issue of bypassing pharmacy focusing on "enhancing a professional approach within a changing context". She stressed that developing today's patient distribution process presents both opportunities and challenges. Although new direct-to-patient distribution models (for example through the internet, wholesalers or hospitals) carry risks that the pharmacist may be bypassed, the situation presents opportunities for pharmacy to adapt and capitalise on change. The proper integration of new distribution models could bring a number of benefits across the whole healthcare supply chain - including better control, improved safety, greater freedom of choice for the patient and more efficient cost control. The forum then had a discussion of a number of related distribution issues as they affect pharmacy.
Joao Cordeiro, President of the ANF (the national association of pharmacies in Portugal), gave a presentation on the current state of the Portuguese pharmacy sector. He covered the increasing liberalisation of the market and the need for pharmacy to offer better services if the profession is to adapt and achieve its objectives. Pedro Capilla, President of the General Council of Spanish Pharmacists, then presented on "The future of the pharmacy sector in Spain." He stressed during his opening remarks that medicine is not merchandise and that healthcare should not therefore be subject to market rules. He then described moves by the European Commission to force the amendment of Spanish law so that it lifts current restrictions on pharmacy ownership.
Juan Serra Manetas, General Director of Pharmacies at the Catalonian Health Ministry, then presented on "The developing role of the pharmacist in the Spanish public healthcare system". Under Spanish law, pharmacists are responsible for the production, conservation, and dispensing of medicines as well as public health surveillance.
New Spanish legislation, introduced in 2006, enhances these responsibilities and more clearly defines their relationship with the primary care structure. Catalonian pharmacy law already recognises the importance of the pharmacist as the first link in the healthcare chain. Like other regions in Spain, Catalonia has been able to develop a healthcare model that works and that places the needs of citizen at the heart of the system.
On day two of the seminar, a review of the current situation and key developments within each of the member countries was presented to the delegates. Finally, Ornella Barra gave a presentation which included the new Alliance Boots wholesale brand before going on to highlight the development of Alvita and Almus in new countries as well as the potential for developing Boots brands across Europe. The event was then formally brought to a close by Elvire Kuyck, who thanked all those in attendance and urged them to renew their efforts to meet the challenges ahead.
