News
5 December 2005
EPF Round Table in Rome -"Market evolutions and Pharmacy: Opportunities and perspectives"
The European Pharmacists Forum (EPF) held a round table discussion on 30 November in Rome on the theme of "Market evolutions and Pharmacy: Opportunities and perspectives". The Round Table was organised alongside the last of the quarterly EPF seminars for 2005. The first three seminars were held in Paris (February 2005), Amsterdam (June 2005) and London (September 2005).
About 120 pharmacists, industry representatives and journalists attended the Round Table bringing together high-level speakers including Flora Giorgio, General Secretary of the PGEU (Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union), Herman Stefan Keller, President of the German pharmacists' association for Rheinland Pfalz, Giacomo Leopardi, President of the FOFI (Italian federation of pharmacists' associations), Sergio Liberatore, Vice-President of Farmindustria (the Italian association of pharmaceutical manufacturers), Giorgio Siri, President of Federfarma (the Italian federation of pharmacies) and Angelo Zanibelli, President of Anifa (the Italian self-medication association). The debate was moderated by Prof. Enrico Finzi, a well-known sociologist specialising in the pharmacy sector.
Following introductory presentations on the EPF and the Kring concept in The Netherlands by EPF President Elvire Kuyck, and on the proposed merger between Alliance UniChem and Boots by Ornella Barra, Executive Director of Alliance UniChem, discussions focused on the need to ensure that patients' expectations are met, building on the trust and respect between pharmacist and patient, a particular feature of the Italian market. Pharmacists had demonstrated their ability to meet challenges and the profession had evolved over the years to move away from pure dispensing to the provision of advice and services. However, there was considerable concern amongst the audience that Italian pharmacists could lose their monopoly on the sale of medicines.
The EPF Rome seminar itself featured a keynote speech from Hermann Stefan Keller, President of the German pharmacists' association for Rheinland Pfalz, who gave an overview of the German healthcare model, generating great interest amongst EPF members, in particular regarding the remuneration scheme and home delivery services.
Stefano Benetti, an EPF Member, outlined recent changes in the Italian National Health System, emphasizing the rights and responsibilities of Italian pharmacies, and explaining the threats and challenges facing Italian pharmacists in the future.
