History of the UKPPG
Pharmaceutical Industry
Psychiatric Pharmacists have been helped in their development along the way by various pharmaceutical companies. Whilst there are obvious economic reasons for Industry interest in the profession, there has been an open, working relationship which has benefited both parties. Funding of accommodation and travel for committee meetings has been of significant benefit to the UKPPG. Offers of bursaries for the Psychiatric Pharmacy Certificate and Diploma have been offered, and received by many students. Some companies that should be mentioned include (in alphabetical order):
- AstraZeneca, who have funded the UKPPG national telephone helpline, based at the Maudsley, since October 1996, sponsor an annual AstraZeneca-UKPPG Travel Award, have helped with committee meetings, and joint conference sponsors in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004
- Bayer, who presented the Bayer-UKPPG Psychiatry of Old Age Award in 1999
- Bristol-Myers Squibb/Otsuka, joint major sponsors in 2003, 2004
- Janssen, who essentially started the conference in 1976, and supported it for five years, then became with Shire joint conference sponsors in 2000, 2003 and 2004
- Lilly Industries, particularly Dr Hiram Wildgust. Hiram and colleagues have been a regular feature of the annual Conference from 1989 to 1999 and joint major sponsors (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004), have run an annual conference of their own every June since 1990, have invited pharmacists to speak at Medical Conferences and supported a range of psychiatric pharmacy activities (including committee meetings on a regular basis).
- Lundbeck Foundation, who have funded and supported many UKPPG functions (e.g. AEP in 1998, committee meetings, publication of consensus statements) and projects (e.g. Community Care Statement) over the years in a noticeably ethical way, and joint major conference sponsors in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004
- Novartis/Sandoz, who supported the conference from 1980-85, and from 1990-2004 had been significant supporters and facilitators of the residential training programme, initially organised by Lynn Haygarth and which has formed part of the Certificate and Diploma qualifications
- Pfizer, who have supported many events (including committee meetings) and the UKPPG Bulletin (1998-2000), and joint conference sponsors in 2000 and 2002
- Sanofi-Synthelabo, joint conference major sponsors in 2002, 2003, 2004
- SmithKline Beecham, who published, printed and distributed the Bulletin for many years
Many other companies have helped the UKPPG, but who are now no longer major players in the mental health field e.g. Roche, Lederle etc