Portsmouth - Spinnaker Tower
Andrew Onariase provides highlights from the British Pharmaceutical Students' Association annual conference, which was held at the University of Portsmouth from 16-23 April 2011
Avoiding excess medicines wastage within the NHS
What is the best way to avoid excess medicines wastage within the NHS? This was one of several questions presented to the question-and-answer panel during a Q&A session. The panel was chaired by Rob Darracott, chief executive of the Company Chemists’ Association, and consisted of Mike Smith, chairman of Alliance Healthcare, and Catherine Duggan, director of professional development and support at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
Dr Duggan informed delegates that medicines waste needs to be addressed and not ignored, saying that “more can be done with medicines rather than just disposing of them” and “pharmacy seems to be slow in responding to this problem”. She pointed out that medicines that are in-date and returned to pharmacies can be redistributed to charity organisations that need them. She urged pharmacists to use their professional judgement to decide which medicines are safe and effective to be used this way.
Mr Smith branded the waste of medicines within the NHS shameful. He believes the solution is to ensure that healthcare professionals encourage patients to be compliant with their medicines “through building relationships with them” because some patients refrain from telling their doctors about medicines they do not take. He urged prescribers to “think carefully” about their prescribing behaviour since medicines used in palliative care are expensive, and every member of the healthcare team has an important role to play in reducing medicines waste.
Mr Darracott endorsed Dr Duggan’s view, saying that “registered drug recycling facilities are well equipped to combat drug wastages” and that “an appropriate management of medicines is crucial in reducing the NHS deficit”.
Students should experience pharmacy at an international level
Jan Röder, president of the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF), talked about the strong links between the BPSA and the IPSF. He said that the BPSA is seen as the “gold standard” by pharmacy students worldwide. He urged delegates to embark on the student exchange programme since this is a fantastic opportunity to experience the changing faces of the pharmacy profession on the international stage.
The student exchange programme lasts up to three months and can include industrial placements. Participants can choose from around 62 countries worldwide. Mr Röder also urged delegates to consider attending the 57th IPSF world congress in Thailand from 3–13 August 2011. For more information, see the IPSF website.
Should all contractors pay their employees’ annual registration fees?
Vikesh Kakad, the BPSA’s student exchange officer and fourth-year pharmacy undergraduate at Medway School of Pharmacy, Universities of Greenwich and Kent, proposed the motion that “the association believes that the annual General Pharmaceutical Council registration fee for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and preregistration [trainees] should be paid for by their employers or contractors”. This motion was seconded by Shyam Teli, fourth-year pharmacy student at the University of Portsmouth.
Mr Kakad made clear his worries with regard to paying the preregistration training fee next month when he applies to the General Pharmaceutical Council. He stressed that it should be contractors’ responsibility to pay the fees, going on to say that “pharmacists are employers’ representatives”.
However, Heena Bhakta, hospital pharmacist and past BPSA president, did not share this view, saying that “self-employed locums pay their own fees, so should every other pharmacist”. Mr Teli reinforced Mr Kakad’s view, saying that “some large multiples already pay the fees of the [trainees] and pharmacists, so other contractors should follow”.
In the end, delegates voted against this motion and it was not carried.
Student of the year award
Alice Hill, a third-year pharmacy student at the University of East Anglia, was presented with the Reckitt Benckiser pharmacy student of the year award by Martin Astbury, President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. She wins an all-expenses paid trip to this year’s International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation annual congress in Thailand.
New BPSA president and vice-president elected
Members of the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association elected Ryan
Wesley Artist (left) and Ryan Hamilton (right)
Mr Hamilton has been working for the association for four years and is currently the public relations officer. He is currently a preregistration trainee at King’s College Hospital, London, having graduated from Liverpool John Moores University. Commenting on his new role, Mr Hamilton said: “I will ensure that students are fully represented to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, General Pharmaceutical Council, other pharmacy bodies and employers, empowering the executives to better themselves and their roles for a successful BPSA 70th anniversary.”
Mr Artist has been working with the association for three years and is currently the IT officer. He is in his fourth year of study at the University of Nottingham. Commenting on his new role, he said: “I will support the president as best as i can, so that he is able to advocate for the members at every opportunity.”
An honorary life membership was presented to current president Louise Hemmings for her services to the BPSA. A full list of the election results of the BPSA executive is available at the BPSA’s website.
BPSA research poster award
Annika Kwiek, fourth-year pharmacy student at the University of Sunderland, won the BPSA Research Poster Award (sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline). She is awarded £100. Ms Kwiek’s poster was about the effects of cyclodextrins, copovidone, copovidone and lyophilisation on stability of DNA.
On winning the award, Annika said: “This is one of the ways of getting into the pharmacy world, as I want to undertake a PhD in drug delivery systems.”
The next BPSA annual conference
The BPSA 70th annual conference will be held at the University of Sunderland in April 2012
Andrew Onariase is a fourth-year pharmacy student at the University of Portsmouth and blogger for Tomorrow's Pharmacist
