Courtesy Raj Patel
A community pharmacist who owns a chain of high street pharmacies in the North West of England has been elected the next president of the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU).
Raj Patel, a board member of the UK’s National Pharmacy Association, will take up the role in 2017.
The PGEU, whose members are made up of national associations and professional bodies of community pharmacists from over 30 European countries, represents its members in Brussels and works to influence pharmacy policy and legislative changes across the EU.
In his acceptance speech, Patel said he wanted to develop the role of pharmacy in Europe, particularly in public health, and warned against cuts to pharmacy spending.
“It is essential that governments across Europe invest in pharmacy so that an integrated network of pharmacy is maintained and populations right across Europe can benefit from the expertise offered by pharmacy.”
Patel owns 17 community pharmacies in the North West of England and received a MBE for services to pharmacy in the 2013 New Year’s honours. His appointment will not be affected by the result of the UK referendum on whether to leave the EU.
