Editorial Technicians on the Move Right Time's When Time's Right

T echnicians have been a concern of organized pharmacy for decades, perhaps since the creation of the American Pharmaceutical Associa tion (APhA) in 1852. In this issue of jPT (page 156) , we are publishing an 82-year-old quotation from the A P h A that points out dilemmas pharmacy has yet to resolve. These involve the establishment of laws, regulations, and a credentialing process that make clear distinction among pharmacists, technicians, students, and phar macy interns by (1) providing definite minimum qualifi cations for each of these groups of workers, and (2) in dicating the rights and duties of each group. Pharmacy has progressed fairly well in these areas with all but technicians who have been practical ly ignored. From the historical quotation of 1906, we learn that the A P h A did not pass the recommendations of its Section on Education and Legislation. The editor of the journal reporting the event said that only time could bring about what argument and heated debate fail to accomplish. Is the time right now? Before April 1 9 8 1, technicians in the U.S. did not have their own national organization. Before January 1985, there were no national journals devoted to provid ing information about and for technicians on a periodic basis. O n numerous occasions over the last 82 years, organized pharmacy has unsuccessfully faced the issue of how to fit technicians into the pharmacy puzzle with out upsetting pharmacists. Now technicians themselves, through A P T and jPT, are pressuring pharmacists to force the pieces together. Is this the right time? Over the last 82 years, organized pharmacy has unsuccessfully faced the issue of how to fit technicians into the pharmacy puzzle without upsetting pharmacists