A collaborative approach will make pharmacy stronger

I welcome and support the recent announcement that the Independent Pharmacy Federation (IPF) and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) are to merge to create a single representative and support organisation under the NPA banner. This has long been an ambition and it is good news for the sector. This will provide a single voice for the owners of independent pharmacies (in England through the channel of Pharmacy Voice) and will ensure that there is a much needed clarity of purpose and function. The appointment of Claire Ward as chairman of Pharmacy Voice and confirmation that Fin McCaul will work with the NPA mean that their passion, expertise and relationships will be retained and leveraged for the benefit of the whole community pharmacy sector.

It is now important for leaders across pharmacy to deliver an enhanced, sustainable and positive future for the profession through a collaborative approach. One opportunity to do this is through the medicines optimisation agenda, with pharmacists across all sectors working together to deliver patient-centred care. Another opportunity is the profession’s role in improving the public’s health through health promotion and prevention. The recent announcement from Kevin Fenton, director of health and well-being at Public Health England, that he intends to put pharmacy on the public health map and that the Pharmacy and Public Health Forum’s task group has set ambitious targets to roll out the healthy living pharmacy initiative is also welcome.

Michael Holden

Election Candidate

English Pharmacy Board

Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Last updated
Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ, 18 April 2015, Vol 294, No 7858;294(7858):DOI:10.1211/PJ.2015.20068215

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