David Samways Award
The PDIG "David Samways Award" for excellence in medicines procurement is an annual award.
This prestigious award is presented to an individual who has provided a sustained and notable contribution to this critical pharmacy service speciality. The award winner is decided by the PDIG steering committee and presented at the June Summer Symposium. The award is in memory of David Samways, Regional Medicines Procurement Specialist for South West Region who conmtributed greatly to the development of medicines procurement on a local, regional and national basis.
The first recipient of this Award in 2007 was Peter Sharott, Director, London, Eastern and South East Specialist Pharmacy Services. This much coveted Pharmacy award marks the continuous contribution that Peter has made to excellence in medicines procurement over a number of years. Peter has successfully chaired PMSG for a number of years. The PMSG is focused to ensuring that the risk of medicines shortages is reduced and that there is fair competition between all medicine suppliers.
Peter established the first hospital medicines purchasing consortium in 1981. This development spread quickly across London and into other NHS regions. The principals of this consortium have been emulated by confederations and collaborative hubs.
Peter's current role as Chairman of the London Procurement Programme has enable significant savings to be achieved to improve patient care.
The Award winner for 2008 was John Sithers.
John Sithers was one of the few Pharma Industry workers who were able to recognise the need for Industry to engage with the developing roles of pharmacy in particular, clinical and procurement pharmacy. John was able to work on various projects in the clinical arena particularly with the UKCPA to help drive common agendas. Similarly he worked developing the speciality of procurement pharmacy to help drive its development and also enhance communication and partnership with industry. Working with a small group of procurement pharmacists John ran a couple of national meetings on topical procurement issues UK. This seemed to have set the scene for the formation of PDIG. From these initial meetings, a small group started to develop the type of forum into which PDIG has evolved. John worked as a PDIG committee member for some years, and through this established interaction with industry which is a key criteria for PDIG's success.
John also recognised the need for more collaborative communication with the contract authorities, particularly NHS Supplies (as it was then). Working with Howard Stokoe, he established a small informal talk shop with participants from Industry and NHSSA, and was able to do much to tackle common issues as partners. In turn, the ABPI recognised the need for such communication through the formation of the ABPI Supply Chain Group, which John chaired through its formative years.