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A pharmacist colleague has raised the dilemma again after a social meeting with a GP colleague of a very low respect for our expertise and role in the health care of our customers.
The question of 'What is the real relevance of a pharmacist?'
All too often pharmacists are frustrated by the lack of respect and knowledge by a close professional group as to pharmacists' expertise and role in the health care team.
Comments such as 'consultant pharmacists are not very practical ';
'Consultant pharmacist paperwork does not have relevance to the patients' total condition and anyway, we are always being confronted with chronic health and interactive medicines because there is no alternative', and;
' What is the real relevance of a pharmacist?'

We are often faced with negative views from doctors who think it perfectly normal to criticise the job of a pharmacist without knowing the first thing about it. If things are to change then how are pharmacists going to raise the opinion of their GP colleagues and allow them to realise the expertise we have to contribute to the patients' well being?
Working with GPs in the Division and out in the many surgeries in Melbourne I have come to know GPs and have met up with a bit of both negativism and great positive dialogue, where our expertise has been jointly involved in solving dilemmas of medication.
There is no telling what the response will be and some GPs have 'it' and others have a sad misunderstanding of our role.
I expect that their attitude, whatever that may be, has come from their own experience and observation of pharmacists in action.
Often there is an individual lack of knowledge, and a need to cover that up, to defend an 'all knowing' position.
As pharmacists progress to working more intimately with GPs in new service roles, opportunities can be forged for developing good relationships where our expertise in acknowledged and respected.
I remember once in Adelaide, where I was working in a dispensary in a medical practice, and I picked up a potential disaster in a penicillin allergic young patient. I referred it back to the GP, who foreverafter was grateful and respected my vigilance.
Another was where a long ongoing skin rash with no relief for the patient or solution for the GP was resolved on my recommendation, and suggestion of a certain drug implication.
These opportunities occur each day across the country and as a result, some GPs are exposed to the benefits we can provide both for their own wellbeing professionally, and to their patients.
What strategies can be offered to pharmacists faced with inappropriate criticisms and negative comments from members of the medical profession?
Is this criticism extended to other professionals?
Why pick on the pharmacist, who works probably the closest to the GP.
At least from my Division GP's perspective, the pharmacist is 'the professional colleague we most refer to'.
Ignorance is no excuse, and yet it seems that this is one of the prime reasons for the negative situation that exists.
I do not think some pharmacies portray a good image either - so it works both ways.
When I walk past (operative word) a pharmacy offering everything from dry cleaning to lottery tickets my impression sinks, and I vow never to be associated with such an outfit.
Do we have to peddle this (pharmacy) absurd merchandise?
I remember selling tins of salmon and laundry detergent in one place I was unfortunate to be in.
Perhaps if we want our image to be professional and be respected for it then not only does our professional behavior have to reflect it but also our surroundings? Are we manipulated by so called 'marketing groups' - often headed by grocery retail gurus?
I resent our professional image being portrayed by well-heeled so-called executives with no 'ownership' of what we stand for as a profession.
And do we remunerate our professionals as we do this so-called 'marketer'?
We have sold ourselves out as professionals in so many instances.
I pay my gardener more than I, as a pharmacist, can earn an hour!
(And that is not much!)
I believe we have to examine our own back yard meticulously and set about portraying pharmacists as committed professionals where it shows.
A pharmacist stepping out from behind the dry cleaning may know a lot about medications but on first impressions, what would you think?
Good inter-professional relationships are going to become critical to establishing and integrating new pharmacy services in the community.
Pharmacists have the expertise, and know a different facet of the patient to the GP. Application of our skills and this knowledge can only improve Quallity Use of Medicines (QUM), and offer benefits to the central players in this arena.
It will be a real shame if lack of respect for any of the essential players in these schemes leads to their demise.
What do you readers suggest as a way forward to overcoming the negativism shown to our professional colleague.
Have you any good anecdotes to balance what a lot of us are encountering?
Let us hear!

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