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Friendly
Society Pharmacies
Friendly
Society Pharmacies are not-for-profit entities, which have
owned and operated pharmacies continuously since the 1840's.
They are representative of the long tradition of community
services provided by many entities in a range of industries
but especially in the primary health care and related industries.
Although
they have operated continuously since the first Friendly
Society Dispensary was established in Sydney in 1847 their
operations have always been bitterly opposed by the representatives
of the commercial pharmacists.
The
purpose of the Friendly Societies in establishing their
own Dispensaries was to ensure the supply to their members
of quality medicines as prescribed and at affordable prices.
They were able to do this because the Dispensaries were
established and operated on true not-for-profit principles.
The
restrictive provisions were introduced for commercial and
economic purposes for the benefit of the commercial pharmacist
and not for professional reasons or on public health grounds.
The parliamentary debates of the day made this quite clear
.
However,
since then and gradually over time the present legislative
restrictions applying to Friendly Society Pharmacies have
been increasingly represented and promoted as being required
in order to protect the community on public health grounds
.
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Australian
Friendly Societies Pharmacies Association Inc.
ABN 76 147 873 151 | © 2005
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