The programme was developed by a joint effort of both organizations who wanted to open a debate and investigate possibilities for enhanced cooperation and hopefully thereby have an impact on the way in which pharmaceutical care services are developed and implemented, so the services will be both effective, relevant to patients and the public, and recognized by decision-makers.

Collaborative working involves a common understanding of terms, as well as mutual recognition of skills, qualifications and experiences of all partners, and the first lectures set the scene by giving researchers an insight into the needs of pharmacy practice, and providing politicians and practitioners with an insight into the possibilities and relevance of research in the field of pharmaceutical care.

The main element of the conference was the workshops which provided possibilities for detailed technical discussions among researchers and practitioners to identify concrete steps for ensuring both the successful dissemination and implementation of pharmaceutical care at national level and how it could be monitored.

A poster exhibition had been organized and 20 posters were presented and displayed which related to different subjects within pharmacy practice and research in the field of pharmaceutical care. The posters were publicly presented and discussed during the networking market, chaired by Dr Dick Tromp, who guided the participants through the exhibition by randomly interviewing poster presenters.

The participants experienced a real working conference with lots of learning, sharing and networking. On closing the conference the Chairman of PCNE, Martin Henman, remarked that ..."in the future we should have a common agenda" and "we have now completed the enabling phase of our relationship and are well prepared to work together to establish collaborative action and research to aid policy".