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Home  »   BAMELatest News   »   PDA BAME Network delivers inspiring session at CPC 2022

PDA BAME Network delivers inspiring session at CPC 2022

Last month, the PDA BAME Network hosted a panel session at CPC titled ‘PDA members leading change for an anti-racist pharmacy sector’. The session was attended by PDA BAME Network members, a diverse audience of pharmacists, and healthcare professionals.

Fri 3rd June 2022 The PDA

The session was chaired by Hala Jawad, PDA BAME Network member and PDA Representative in Boots. Hala opened the session and introduced the rest of the panel. This was then followed by Sherifat Muhammad Kamal, Vice President of the PDA BAME Network and PDA South East Regional Committee Member who gave an overview of the PDA BAME Network’s activities since the committee was elected. Sherifat emphasised the importance of giving pharmacists a voice to share their lived experiences and how together pharmacists can challenge employers to do the right thing.

Sherifat said, “The PDA BAME Committee is committed to continuing its work on building an anti-racist pharmacy sector, join the network so you can be involved and be part of that change.”

Shurti Patel, PDA BAME Network member, and Regional Committee Member expressed her experience of being part of the PDA BAME Network and what should be done to bring about change. Shurti talked about the feedback she had received on social media from BAME pharmacists about their experiences of discrimination in the workplace. Shurti shared that many pharmacists did not speak up or escalate incidents as they were too afraid and did not feel they had the support. Shurti emphasised the importance of being part of the PDA BAME Network for support and networking. She also encouraged non-PDA members to join and be part of a collective where pharmacists can voice their concerns in a safe environment and work together to tackle discrimination.

Shurti said, “As a PDA Regional Committee and BAME Network member, equality in the pharmacy sector is very important to me so that black, asian and minority ethnic pharmacists can raise their profile and realise their full potential and I hope to see more BAME pharmacists in leadership positions.”

Lastly, Manuella Asso, PDA BAME Network Coordinator, introduced the PDA’s Anti-Racist Pharmacy Toolkit. The toolkit builds upon a previous PDA BAME Network event where Roger Kline presented his No More Tick Boxes research to members. The toolkit has been developed by the committee with the help of Manuella. They aim to empower and equip members to help lead change in a sector that challenges racism, becomes anti-racist and is reflective of its diverse profession.

The toolkit will help pharmacists, PDA representatives, and members to work together, to assess their workplaces and the feelings of their colleagues to decide which elements of Roger Kline’s essential criteria require development to create an anti-racist workplace culture and environment. The PDA’s Anti-Racist Toolkit is a practical resource that includes a factsheet, Roger Kline’s 6 essential criteria that provides the framework, PDA member and employer questionnaires, a trade union action plan template, and a PDA anti-racist Charter. Manuella encouraged all members of the PDA BAME Network and other interested members to attend the launch of the toolkit in a few weeks’ time.

Manuella said, “The most effective way to address inequality at work is through union organisation in the workplace where pharmacists can influence policy together, strengthen the voice of the pharmacist, collectivise issues, challenge and hold your employers to account. The toolkit will enable you to start leading that change in your workplace. I would encourage pharmacists to join the PDA BAME network and to get involved.”

Get involved

  • Follow the PDA BAME Network on social media using the hashtag #PDAbame
  • For more information about the PDA NAWP Network, click here.
  • If you would like to get involved with the network and its activities, please email: bame@the-pda.org

JOIN THE PDA BAME NETWORK TODAY

 

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