If a person is the center of every civilization, from time immemorial, be it in polis, state, parts, or fragments of the global village – the world, then “morality” is the highest standard or even a virtue in all aspects of human creativity, including my profession – pharmacy. Simply put, creativity has a purpose only if it serves the well-being of humans and all of humanity. Is this possible in today’s world, where various ideologies, political, religious, and corporate, prevail? It largely depends on us and our ability to resist conformity.
In the world of pharmacy, my job involves working with patients in a pharmacy. The principles of ethical conduct in the pharmaceutical sector encompass transparency, respecting the autonomy of patients, fairness, and responsibility. Pharmacists must safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of their patients.
Fairness plays a crucial role in terms of the accessibility of medicines. Pharmaceutical companies must ensure that their products are available and affordable to a wide range of people, regardless of socio-economic factors. The challenge lies in maintaining a balance between profit and humanitarian aspects to ensure that medicines are not too expensive and are accessible to those who need them the most.
The pharmacy sector is a very delicate field. I see that problems arise when pharmacies are run by individuals who are not experts and who base their decisions solely on profit. The establishment of mega-chains results in a loss of control over services and a human approach to patients.
Although there is a medical ethical code and various ethical bodies, can our international ethical academy promote education, transparency, and responsibility among pharmacists to ensure that medicines and therapies are beneficial, safe, and accessible to patients worldwide?
MrPh Aleksandra Salom Dimitrijević
(Serbia)