17/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - At its General Assembly on 10 March, the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) adopted a number of recommendations setting out why the role of retail pharmacists should be extended. While welcoming the Green Paper on healthcare staff, adopted by the European Commission on 10 December 2008, the PGEU regrets that this document sets pharmacists apart from other health professionals. The PGEU believes that pharmacists should have a greater role (extending prescriptions, referrals to specialists, etc.) to lighten the load on general practitioners. Pharmacists should also be able to make a contribution to the screening of overweight and obese patients. The pharmacists' advisory and follow-up role with older people, often suffering from various chronic diseases, should not be neglected when the European population is ageing. Open consultation the Green Paper ends on 31 March. (O.J./transl.rt)