..Information to Pharmacists
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Your Monthly E-Magazine
APRIL, 2004

HEATHER PYM

Division of General Practice Perspective
Between the Lines

Lessons between the lines for pharmacists, inspired by a GP's commentary.
An article (tongue in cheek) but with some truth and a lesson between the lines in the Medical Observer of March 19th, brings up the issue of doctors and pharmacists and the professional tension that may or may not still lie somewhere out there, in a clever "humerus"column.
Acknowledging that pharmacists are still top of the most trusted tree above nurses, marginally, and then our medico colleagues, the justice when compared to the respective situations of pharmacists and medicos is questioned.
Despite the situation of over thirty years ago when everyone wanted to get into medicine and only the unlucky ones who failed to make it were relegated to pharmacy as the second option that was looked upon with pity by the lucky bright medical students, the tables have turned.
Now the pharmacists are top of the trusted tree, have retired well off with no mortgages, mercs or better, holidays at call and "the occasional medical review when fancy takes them".
The medicos are battling still with mortgage commitments, 16 hour days, no breaks due to no available locums and the threats of litigation with escalating indemnity.

The question asked in the article - "How did the self-sacrificing healers, who often work for a pittance, are on call nights and weekends, and never seem to get a break, lose out in the credibility stakes to pharmacists who (lets face it) really are shopkeepers?"

Perhaps there is the rub!
Commerce always seems to win out materially over a service orientation.
And yet each GP surgery is a small business like the pharmacy next door with all the same problems of everyday functioning.
Are the pharmacists ahead for reasons other than the professional service delivery?

How many of us as pharmacists have walked out of the 'shop'into other areas of practice because of the split personality of the shop life.
I, and many of my colleagues resent and am bored by highly qualified professionals selling newspapers, laundry detergent, dry cleaning, stamps, lipsticks, snakeoil and the myriad of paraphernalia and potions that grace the pharmacies (and return the buck) and at the same time sending a resounding message into the community and to fellow professionals that we are "really shopkeepers".

Some pharmacists have openly declared that they are "too busy" to worry about the new professional services they are asked to organise for customers.
That there is not enough money in it for them to be involved!
That may be so when compared to the return from running the "shop" but can we as a profession really choose to ignore our professional responsibility.
If we do someone will step in and do this in our stead. And the corporates (dare I print the names) are acutely aware of the golden egg that may be theirs from the pharmacy they perceive to be profitable.

So where does that leave those pharmacists left holding the baby?

The answer may well be to work more closely with our medico colleagues, commit to a professional service orientation and let the paraphernalia go.

We may also like it better that way.