The National Association of Women Pharmacists (NAWP) has said it will dissolve at the end of the year because of "numerous societal changes."

Having formed 114 years ago to raise the profile of female pharmacists, the NAWP said it, like other membership organisations, has had to contend with “a monetarising culture and short-termism.”

In a statement on its website, it said: “It is with considerable regret that the National Association of Women Pharmacists has decided to dissolve the association as of the end of 2019.

“This was agreed at the AGM on 30th April 2019. This will mean the loss of a well-informed entity within pharmacy that has cared whether women thrive within the profession and whether health services provide female patients with what they need.

“NAWP has been aware for several years that it could not continue to operate in its existing form because of numerous societal changes.

‘It has faced the same challenges as many membership organisations, particularly those that cannot abandon their raison-d’etre. Quite understandably, despite sentiments of support, they fall victim to busy lives, a monetarising culture and short-termism.”

NAWP said it would “wind up its activities over the remainder of the year and hopes to find ways for continuity of involvement with European Women Pharmacists Meetings, Athena Swan programmes in schools of pharmacy and heritage functions.”

Picture: bymuratdeniz (iStock)