We can all agree that 2018 has been an eventful year for pharmacy. From a long-awaited pharmacy contract to the last in a long-running judicial review saga, a lot has happened to keep us all entertained (read: stressed out) all year long.

So to mark this wonderful year of ups and downs, we at The Pharmacist decided to round up an illustrious
panel of judges (AKA our editor-in-chief Beth Kennedy and our reporter Léa Legraien) to award some prizes to the most weird and wonderful events.

That’s right – it’s time for the Golden Cross Awards. So don your glad rags, pour yourself a celebratory glass of something delicious and settle down to find out this year’s lucky recipients.

 

The Most Hotly Anticipated Award

Winner –The Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD)

 

Why did it win?

Ah FMD. Preparing for the European-wide anti-counterfeiting measures has got most contractors in something of a tizzy. Despite the fact that the sector has had almost three years to get ready for FMD – which will see pharmacists scanning every pack of medicine before it is dispensed to verify authenticity – before the February kick-off date, for many the stress of doing so is taking its toll.

After all, although there is a wealth of information on FMD if you know where to look, that pharmacists have to make their own arrangements and choose their own suppliers has arguably muddied the process somewhat.

Nevertheless, the powers that be have repeatedly said that making FMD happen is non-negotiable – sorry. But fear not, our panel of experts have predicted that once pharmacists have got used to the FMD process, they’ll wonder how they ever lived without it.

Here’s hoping.

 

Have your say

Do you agree with our judges or do you think other significant events in the world of community pharmacy were robbed of one of these prestigious awards? Let us know by tweeting @Pharmacist_News