Welcome to the June edition of i2P, and for this month we have a range of strategic and informational articles concerning attacks on pharmacy ownership, consultant pharmacist accreditation, an unusual perspective on a future global economy, plus a mention in relation to Internet pharmacy and e-commerce.

Woolworths are on the move again, and this is detailed by Rollo Manning and myself from slightly different perspectives. The prediction is another onslaught on pharmacy ownership, and Rollo points to an unusual ally in the form of Allan Jones, the 2GB radio commentator. It is good that he is on side.
The Woolworths strategy has three stages-the creation of dedicated floor areas and the attachment of pharmacy accredited assistants to serve within; then leasing part of the space (scheduled drugs and dispensing) to a pharmacist; then opening pharmacies in the Woolworths name (first pharmacies will possibly be in ACT and Northern Territory where Pharmacy Acts are weak on ownership for pharmacists).
One has to ask again-where is our strong corporate pharmacy sector vigorous enough to fend off attacks of this nature? The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is so weak on this point they now will be seen to be ludicrous in their attempt to shore up an outdated infrastructure!

It was not planned, but a stream of articles on accredited consultant pharmacist shortages came in, coupled with a response to Lachlan Rose's article last month, querying the reason for a two year hold up for accreditation. Debbie Rigby explains the reasoning, and Lachlan tackles the problem again.Jon Aldous and Karalyn Huxhagen report on specific consultant shortages, and you are left wondering whether there is a better method for accreditation that will fast track, yet not prejudice quality, in terms of the final product of consultant pharmacy.
The problem should be looked at, and hospitals could form a method of fast tracking consultants. Hospitals are a training resource not properly utilised or integrated with community pharmacy.

Pat Gallagher picks up on important aspects of why the PAN recall went wrong and why EAN codes need to be fast tracked throughout the industry. There is a globalisation article that all should read, because it makes commonsense and links in to Allan Jones' comments in Rollo Manning's article (where the shopping strip will simply be Coles and Woolworths).

Andrew Snow, Heather Pym, Ken Stafford, and Simon Rudderham all join us with their specialties and interesting comment.

The hit counter had another quantum leap and recorded 60,620 hits up to 30th May 2003.
Most of the increase was Australian, but overseas readership is steadily climbing e.g. Brazil has come out of nowhere to record 4 percent of hits.

Thanks for the support.
Neil Johnston
June 2003
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