ACP queries PSA-CW pact

THE Australian College of Pharmacy has issued a statement questioning the new training agreement between the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and Chemist Warehouse (PD Fri).

The deal has seen the PSA appointed as the pharmacy retail juggernaut’s preferred training provider, which college president Georgina Twomey suggests will not be welcomed by many pharmacy proprietors.

“I believe that PSA may have underestimated the depth of feeling pharmacy owners will have towards the PSA/Chemist Warehouse training partnership,” Twomey said.

“PSA has always prided itself on its non-partisan support for pharmacists... is this a change in their approach?” she asked.

Twomey said if any owners felt disenfranchised by the PSA/CW pact, “they and their staff will always be welcomed as valued members by the College.

“The strength of our clinical and management/business education makes the College the ideal alternative,” she added.

She noted that over 40 years the Australian College of Pharmacy had built a strong reputation of excellence in pharmacist education, which was the organisation’s main reason for being.

The ACP president also noted the long history the College had with pharmacy owners via the Australian Institute of Pharmacy Management which it absorbed in 2004.

“Our members want to belong to the College because of the quality of our education and the personalised service we provide to them...the College will always place the needs of our members at the very top of our reasons for doing what we do,” Twomey added.

“I invite all pharmacists and people working in the pharmaceutical industry to join the College, and experience the benefits of belonging to a truly member focused organisation,” she concluded.