Its no longer about a white coat behind the counter dishing out medicine and giving terse answers to questions on health, the pharmaceutical industry is now the cornerstone of health provision, Grace Allen -Young CPA president said Wednesday.

“Governments cannot work in isolation, the crises of HIV/AIDS stands huge. The pharmaceutical industry has to be engaged, it is the pharmacy where people access their drugs from, a partnership needs to be formed in how medical provisions are going to be accessed and treatment optismised.”

She said governments and legislators throughout the commonwealth should recognize the expertise of pharmacists to ensure the best possible outcomes of treatment with anti retroviral (arvs) drugs.

In supporting the World Health Organisation (WHO) goal of ensuring three million people with HIV/AIDS receive treatment by 2005 (3x5 initiative), Allen-Young said governments should not make policy decisions alone otherwise the initiative will fail..

As well as being the primary legal custodians of medicines, pharmacists are not only providers of medicines but are also providers of reliable and accurate information, helping patients understand why how and when to take their medicines to optimise benefits.

Young- Allen said pharmacists play an indispensable role of breaking down the stigma and discrimination often associated with the HIV/AIDS

“We have a young pharmacist in Jamaica who actually holds talks on HIV/AIDs and ARVs at public places to give a chance to those who would be embarrassed to seek counseling to at least hear enough to enable them make informed decisions.”

Commonwealth Deputy Secretary general Winston Cox who launched the statement said every country had to take specific account of the impact of the disease on its current activities and its plans for the future.

He said pharmacist’s ability to influence the attitudes and behaviours of patients was being more and more acknowledged and governments should heed this special role that they played in society

The CPA’s Ocho Rios Statement on the role of pharmaceutical companies in the prevention and management of HIV/AIDS outlines a number of interventions which nations can adopt to prevent and treat HIV/AIDs infections:

Develop country specific strategies and standard operating procedures to assist pharmacists fulfill their role in the fight against the epidemic:

Adopt a multi sectoral approach and work strategically with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to promote the involvement of pharmacists in the development and implementation of strategies to combat HIV/AIDS.

Nominate pharmacists to positions on national government and professional committees relating to HIV/AIDS;

* Lobby politicians and government health agencies to involve pharmacists in decision making processes in policy development and implementation to control and manage the pandemic and provide continuing education programmes on HIV/AIDS prevention and management and facilitate courses provided by other institutions.

“Our aim” Young- Allen says is to encourage greater public awareness of the discrimination faced daily by those living with HIV and AIDS. As pharmacists we can play a role by providing a supportive environment for sufferers and carers. When people feel safe in their communities, they are more likely to take responsibility for their HIV status, seek treatment and prevent transmission.”