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The Pharmacies Issue
(January 2004)
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For a number
of consumers, this issue, which involves control of the
number of licences issued to those who want to open up a
pharmacy, might not be that important. The reason is that
we got used to the idea of accepting any service. We tend
to protest only when the service provided is obnoxious.
The
importance of the pharmacy issue is that it provides a
clear example of:
q
restrictions
to entry into the market;
q
arguments
using the pretext of standards to corner the market;
q
setting up
regulatory arrangements behind closed doors;
q
excluding
consumers from the whole process of decision
making;
q
denying
choice to the consumers;
q
the lack of
commitment by the Health Division in protecting
consumers' interests;
and
q
the existing
allegiance of the administrative/political and
business
structures which is denying the consumers of their
rights.
That is why
we will persist in our efforts to see that this issue is
resolved to the best interests of the consumers.
You may read
the correspondence sent to the press on behalf of the
Association:
>
Pharmacy Licences - An Attempt to
Smudge Issues
>
Pharmacy Licenses - The Hidden
Agenda
>
Pharmacy Licenses - Pathetic
>
Pharmacy
Licenses
- We Insist on Competition & Standards
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