Christian pharmacist tells CI: ‘I’m so glad my conscience rights remain’

Last month, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) backtracked on guidance which could have eroded the conscience rights of Christian pharmacists.

Under draft guidelines, Christians and others would have been forced to provide abortifacient or hormone-blocking drugs to patients.

However, after objections from hundreds of Christian professionals, and the threat of legal action by The Christian Institute, the most harmful elements of the proposals were dropped.

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The news was welcomed by Beverley Trigkilidas, a Christian pharmacist based in Newcastle.

In an exclusive interview with The Christian Institute, she explained the risk to conscience from dangers posed by the draft guidance.

And she expressed relief that pharmacy professionals will still be able to live out their faith in the workplace.

New guidance by the GPhC asserts that: “Pharmacy professionals have the right to practise in line with their religion, personal values or beliefs”.

It also retains the right of referral, so pharmacists who, on conscience grounds, do not wish to dispense abortifacient drugs can refer patients to a colleague or another local pharmacy.