Retailing realities

Simone Roberts

Niels Bowen, who has long been at the forefront of pharmacy retailing, was responding to comments made by Professor Benrimoj in his outgoing message as president in the branch bulletin.

In the publication, Prof Benrimoj, who is a passionate supporter of matters relating to the delivery of professional services and programs, said for too long pharmacy has been struggling to create a professional health identity of the stature it deserves.

"We have continually missed opportunities to extend our health services and reach, whilst other health professionals have made substantial advances in broadening the scope of their role. We have been too narrowly focused on the retailing of goods and services which have little relevance to our professional practice of pharmacy," he said.

Mr Bowen said the comments were "outrageous".

"I think in the length and breadth of Australia there would be only a handful of pharmacies that could survive on professional services only - even the tiniest medical centre has a small retail component. Maybe the 5000 pharmacy licence holders throughout Australia could give the ex-president a commercial reality check. There are many community pharmacists who could inform the professor that there is more to being a good community pharmacist than the narrow academic role he sees."

Mr Bowen also dismissed Mr Benrimoj's plea for a more active role for the PSA in the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement negotiations, and an equal partnership with the Guild.

"Now that was amusing," Mr Bowen said. "Wouldn’t the government love to see that - a narrow band of academics that have no obvious idea about the industry they profess to represent?"