Pharmacy conference cruises into Sicily

Sicilian sailing: The Seven Seas Navigator anchored at Naxos in Sicily, Italy. 

The Sigma Mediterranean cruise has reached its halfway point with the ship Sigma has chartered for the conference, the Seven Seas Navigator, sailing into Naxos, Sicily yesterday.

Over 300 pharmacists and doctors have been mixing business and pleasure for the last three days aboard.

After a sunset pool-side cocktail party as the ship sailed from the Athens port of Piraeus on Sunday evening, a night of partying and some heavy losses on the blackjack table followed before the ship arrived at the volcanic island of Santorini at dawn.

Delegates left for various tours of the island with some of the more intrepid burning around the island on quad bikes. Fearless Victorian Guild president, Dipak Sanghvi, with his wife Dina riding pillion, were seen tearing around the island’s hair raising roads at speeds of up to 45 kph.

That evening national president of the Guild, Kos Sclavos, Sigma CEO, Elmo de Alwis, and Sigma marketing director, Con Tangalakis, hosted a big fat Greek barbecue which featured some enthusiastic, albeit shambolic, Greek dancing.

A full day at sea on Tuesday saw the conference’s first full day of sessions attended by both doctors and pharmacists. The Guild’s Wendy Phillips outlined the new professional programs and change management techniques, media personality Dr John D’Arcy presented his vision of shared care and Sigma chairman, Dr John Stocker, outlined the pharmaceutical prospects of future molecules.

Former Australian cricket captain, Mark Taylor, gave an entertaining keynote address on leadership, peppered with reminiscences of his favourite sledges and memories of his record-equalling 334 not out against Pakistan which placed him alongside Sir Donald Bradman as Australia’s highest run scorer in test cricket.

The afternoon session concluded with a lively panel discussion on the GP/pharmacist relationship.

The cruise continues today to Barcelona with another full day of sessions and concludes in Nice this Saturday.      

11-Oct-2007