[Column]GPP can’t be off anymore

Chang Sik Yoo, a chariman of New Wave Pharmacy association

GPP is a hot potato in the pharmaceutical society.

 

It is unlikely that a executive of the pharmaceutical association with experience in business would completely deny the introduction of GPP.

 

This is because the government and the public have been asking the pharmaceutical association for decades.

 

But the drive is making slow progress.

 

This is because it is difficult for the Korean pharmaceutical society to roll their arms first for a policy that members are not happy with.

 

Former Executive Committee, Chan-hui Cho held a debate to discuss the GPP, but the members' response was cold.

 

The core of GPP is to elevate pharmacy's work level.

 

This ranges from patient services related to medication to systematic and clean management of pharmacies.

 

It is basic not to make unauthorized persons illegal activities, such as dispensing or selling generic drugs.

 

This system aims to induce improvement by certifying excellent pharmacies through evaluation and to raise the level of work of all pharmacies.

 

But members' response to the GPP is not favorable.

 

They recognize the necessity, but they are not very active in accepting, or even view it as another unnecessary regulations.

 

Some used to run a pharmacy at their convenience, but once the GPP is in place, they have to be more careful to meet the criteria and to include being assessed by an outside agency for certification.

 

Nevertheless, the positive side of the GPP certainly exists.

 

First, they can reduce underage pharmacies which do damage to the entire pharmacist society There are many pharmacies that operate in good faith in accordance with desirable pharmacists, but there are some that do not.

 

Because of these pharmacies, the overall status of the pharmacist society falls.

 

The protection of these pharmacies by the Korean pharmaceutical society is nothing less than the surrender of the rights of the whole members.

 

Second, they can increase public confidence in pharmacies and pharmacists.

 

Support of the public is essential for the pharmacist's petition project such as ingredient prescription.

 

It is important to understand that the current situation with low confidence or expectation in pharmacies is the biggest obstacle to the development of pharmacist functions.

 

Members often avoid GPP because of incorrect information or realistic concerns.

 

The idea is that the GPP is tricky to implement a corporate pharmacy or objectionable because it will cost a lot of interior expense.

 

In particular, there seems to be a misunderstanding that hardware elements such as interior and automatic dispenser are important conditions for becoming a pharmacy.

 

Not like that.

 

In order to provide good service, software factors such as pharmacist knowledge and careful care of patients are more important.

 

And the certification system should be made to reflect these software elements well.

 

This can lead to the development of the pharmacist's function, which is the true purpose of the system.

 

In order for the GPP to be settled in a desirable manner, it is correct that the pharmacist society faithfully carries out these concerns and preemptively implements them.

 

Recently, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission recommends that the Ministry of Welfare undertake a study on the implementation of the GPP.

 

It is a pity to respond aggressively to the changes of the times and to the demands of the people.

 

We must abandon the current situation where the pharmacist society seems to stand up to the consumer's demands, and change to the stage where the pharmacists renew and gain the trust of the people.

 

Change is always painful.

 

But the power to change on its own is the driving force to open the future.

 

Even now, we expect the pharmacist society to gather wisdom and courage to be on the right track of change.