Disclaimer: I am a reformed smoker, being tobacco free since 1984
I have an ethical issue with outlets that have pharmacies that also sell
tobacco products, and I am on a one person crusade to have the College of Pharmacists
considered an "either/or" policy / directive on this
issue. There is a level of logic that could not condone selling tobacco in
one area, and smoking cessation products in another.
Tobacco products can be sold from just about anywhere where there is a
cash register (gas stations, pubs/bars, corner stores, etc.) to the 17% of the
people who still use such products and continue to ignore the health risks to
do so.
Pharmacies on the other hand are part of our health system and somewhat
sacrosanct if the wealth of professional knowledge is tapped (I trust
my pharmacist as much / more than my MD and see him far more often).
The choice of the retail end of the store to sell life threatening, although
legal, products is diametrically opposed to the function of the pharmacy
and therefore makes no ethical sense.
As a citizen with a myriad of health issues, I am requesting the College
of Pharmacists to seriously consider drawing a draconian line in the annual
licencing of pharmacies: specifically, the retail store EITHER
sells/markets pharmaceutical products, OR tobacco products, but not
both.
Some retail stores may opt out of having a pharmacy as part of their mix, then reluctantly, I may have to change where I purchase my medication but it will be better than compromising my ethics.
If you have a thought on this, you too can write to them at info@bcpharmacists.org
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