About The ICCA
Thursday, 19 August 2004

A brief explanation of the ICCA

Membership of the ICCA is by invitation only and member companies are from the privately owned regional multiple pharmacy sector.

Full members are proprietors and senior managers; they are innovative and committed to the sector, have much experience of pharmacy, it's institutions, politics and evolution and have a personal interest in driving the sector forward. Member companies are based throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

During times of change the occasional associate member will be invited, generally these are suppliers able to inform us of changes affecting the industry and who can benefit from our operational insights.

When it was founded and why?

ICCA was founded in 1992 with an intention to give privately owned regional pharmacy multiples an open forum in which to debate, research and progress the local and national interests of community pharmacy.

Some key objectives of members are:

To co-operate on matters of good professional practice To encourage pharmacy bodies to improve healthcare in local communities
To improve professional standards in the practice of pharmacy
To facilitate competition between contractors in the provision of healthcare services

Is there a connection between ICCA and AIMp?

ICCA is an informal meeting, debating, study and research group. Members of ICCA are also the core founder members of AIMp but unlike AIMp the ICCA is not a political group nor is it a representative body with a formal constitution.

However, from time to time we have taken an impromptu representative position when we feel our members unanimous views are not being properly debated; such as the Pfizer/Unichem direct to pharmacy scheme when we presented formaly to MP's, MEP's HM Treasury and the Office of Fair Trading.

The ICCA meetings format

The ICCA hold three meetings a year, in January (London), May (Edinburgh) and October (Warwickshire).

Delegates assemble in the evening of day 1 for a relaxed dinner in a private room, followed by drinks at the bar. The evening is informal, lively, with open discussions amongst members and guests. The evening is intended to be relaxed and social - this aspect of membership is considered a very important part of our format.

The following morning is more formal; there is a pre-released agenda managed by the chair, the meeting commences from 9am to 1pm.

No minutes are taken and we never publish comments from members or guests. Presentations are sometimes distributed to members later for reference, by agreement only.

After our meeting we conclude with a light lunch and relaxed conversation and members leave the group at their leisure.