RETAIL/WHOLESALE

Berlin  -  For half a century the interests of European pharmacists have been represented in Brussels. Around 400 000 pharmacists from 30 countries belong to the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) via their professional associations nationally. What began as a casual exchange of experiences has developed in recent years into an important focal point of professional politics.

The PGEU was founded on 29th May 1959 in Frankfurt. At first the pharmacists consulted each other about pharmaceutical questions and different pharmacy models. The acceptance of new member states and the broadening of responsibilities of today's EU also influenced the development of the Pharmaceutical Group: In the 1980s, for example, the PGEU helped to bring into line the training and qualifications of pharmaceutical personnel across Europe.

With the EU proceedings on outside and multiple ownership as well as restrictions on the freedom of establishment for pharmacies, the representation of interests in Brussels took on new meaning. The discourse with the institutions is not always easy: On one occasion two years ago the PGEU even turned to the EU ombudsman because the European Commission did not wish to make a study on the European pharmacy markets publicly accessible.

Only pharmacists' organisations from the EU member states can become members of the PGEU. Half a dozen employees represent the European pharmacists. Several times a year meetings of the general assembly, of the working groups and of the executive board take place at the offices in Rue de Luxembourg. Its presidency changes once a year: this year Swedish Thony Björk is president of the PGEU. Since 2006 the general secretary has been British John Chave.

The anniversary was celebrated last month in the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels. An exhibition looked back on important events of the past decades for European pharmacies. In view of the eight ongoing infringement proceedings concerning ownership limitations as well as a whole range of further planned interventions of the EU in the European pharmacy scene, the representation in Brussels will also be indispensable in the future.

Janina Rauers, Mon, December 07, 2009 11:19am CET