SEARCHING FOR THE SOUL OF PHARMACY

This lecture explores the theme that the soul (character) of individua l pharmacists must be nourished in order to save pharmacy as a health profession. Health care is being drastically altered by a private sect or that says it wants to lower health care costs but in fact desires h uge profits. Pharmacy leaders have shown nimbleness in dealing with co rporate demands, but many are becoming too preoccupied with the busine ss of health care. Pharmacists need to discipline themselves lest the lure of the new order blind them to their primary obligations to patie nts. Pharmacists should act as a counterforce to the marketing of pres cription drug products directly to consumers. Pharmacy is an occupatio n psychically bound to the act of providing medications to patients, b ut which knows it must find a new reason for being. There is hope for the profession in this realization-it led to the philosophy of pharmac eutical care-but no guarantees. Pharmacists must declare that their in terests may differ from their employers' whenever patient welfare is i n question. Suggestions are offered on how to nourish the soul of phar macy