Rho Chi lecture. Pharmacy in a smaller world

Health care is a business. Pharmacy is in the health business. The health care delivery system in the U.S. is rapidly becoming a managed system by corporations. Further, these corporations are moving toward international markets where some already have considerable experience. There are many parts of the world not participating in these developments in health care. Some are just off our shores in the Caribbean Basin. A review of activities occurring in recent years by various groups suggests that more could be done. Two modest approaches are presented. Support of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy's "Pharmacy School Twinning Project" through which U.S. pharmacy schools would work with pharmacy schools in Central and South America is recommended. Also, national pharmacy associations jointly with pharmaceutical companies would work together using their expertise in continuing pharmacy education to develop new education models for the needy areas of the world.