Alfie Palmier

W e are living in an unprecedented era of economic, demographic and technological change, which present both challenges and opportunities for the pharmacy profession. There are many visions for pharmacy in circulation, and many new models of practice have been discussed over time. However, as yet there has been little to bring these together in a coherent narrative for the profession’s future role on the Maltese Islands.

Undoubtedly, the year 2014 will be forever etched in the history of our profession as the year of change; the year that saw the synchronised efforts of a team of motivated and passionate individuals. The vision of unity involving progressive liberal and innovative thinking was established. Led by its think-tank, representing all sectors of our diverse profession, the Moviment Vuċi għall-Ispiżjara was born.

Pharmacy is a broad profession spanning from manufacturing and quality assurance to the clinical role pharmacists fill within our primary health sector, and the dispensing of medication to patients. We all form part of a strong chain made of the individual, yet indispensable links, without which the whole system fails.

Stronger links are formed through continual communication and dialogue that yield active and fruitful creative discussions with the end result being an improvement in the performance of the sector one practices in. If each link is stronger, that makes us all stronger. This can be further achieved through continual professional development, where all professionals practicing in the field are kept regularly informed with current information, and challenged on the knowledge they possess already. We are seeing this happen in various European states, where continued professional development is becoming mandatory by law. This does not only profit the profession, but it also creates enhanced quality healthcare for the patients that we treat.

Although there are numerous differences of style and emphasis amongst the various specialities within our profession, we all share the same convictions; that democracy means active participation by all pharmacists in social, moral and ethical decisions that will affect their profession and their patients.

The involvement of engaged pharmacists, according to this perspective, involves two essential elements:

1. Respect for diversity, meaning that each individual should be recognised for his or her own abilities, interests, ideas, needs, and professional identity, and the

2. Development of critical, socially engaged awareness, which enables individuals to understand and participate effectively in the affairs of their profession in a collaborative effort to achieve a common goal.

Both elements are being practiced by educators in various other fields including academia, and while in extreme forms they have sometimes been separated, we see them as being necessarily related to each other.

We need to be more active in the moulding of our future. This is the principle that fuses the Moviment Vuċi għall-Ispiżjara together. Over the past months we have actively listened to hundreds of our esteemed colleagues who share the same love and passion we have for the future of our profession. Over the past few weeks we have experienced an influx of people willingly participating in this process in record numbers.

So, where do we go from here? The Moviment Vuċi għallIspiżjara has already set milestones through the creation of a pathway built by the pharmacists it represents. At a pristine stage of its creation it has already secured a representation on a leading professional council. The Moviment Vuċi għallIspiżjara pledges to bring up effective proposals and ideas and participate to the best of its abilities to ensure that the will of the pharmacists we have met and listened to, will be adhered to, in an unbiased and independent manner.

Participation is a key factor. The movement belongs to the people it represents and hence involvement by all pharmacists in all areas of practice will lead to a stronger union. Understandably, this is not easy, but definitely not impossible. It is a challenge that can be overcome; we need to make an effort to pull our weight and leave our mark in our history … our footprint in the success that we will all share together … our legacy. Let us be inspired by each other and never fear one another