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I had the honor of giving several conferences to pharmacists about Master Formulas in Sao Paulo, invited by Fagron Ibérica, Rafael Padilla.
I saw an emerging city with great industrial energy. It has 17 million inhabitants. Founded by the Jesuits José de Anchieta and Antonio Vieira. My first conference was at the Buenos Ayres Pharmacy, which surprised me very pleasantly. I don’t remember a similar experience in the pharmacy field.
The Buenos Ayres pharmacy is the largest in South America dedicated to Master Formulation. About 1,500 Master Formulas are dispensed every day, a therapeutic rooted in Brazil that accounts for 12% of pharmacy turnover.
Marisa Marqués is the technical manager of the company. A very professional and sensitive pharmacist with human issues, animal protection. They have a pharmacy history museum, among other interesting elements. Her brother Sergio Marqués is the administrator.
The Buenos Ayres pharmacy was founded in 1946 by the pharmacist Dr. Álvaro de Queiroz Marqués with a work philosophy that persists today:
Its 14 plants employ 400 employees. Marisa Marqués informs me about the scientific organization, training for pharmacists, social care for employees and care for patients and doctors who come to the pharmacy. She shows me the solids, homeopathy, semisolids and liquids laboratory, and the rubber room.
The company follows quality assurance system standards that incorporate good practices for handling, acceptance, controls, calibrated equipment and internal self-inspections.
The Telemarketing service consists of 80 teleoperators, including supervisory telephone operators and coordinators. They answer calls, faxes and emails seeking to expedite the delivery of medications within the company’s quality standards. FM delivery is by motorcycle or bicycle.
Marisa Marqués explains to me what the origin of the pharmacy was. The doctors understood that the Magistral Formula could complete patient care by facilitating:
The pharmacy’s auditorium has capacity for 90 people and is open to all requests for training, artistic performances and presentation of books and projects that convey the company’s philosophy, such as well-being, health, vegetarianism, recycling and protection, among others.
I was invited to give a 90-minute conference to pharmacists and pediatricians on Master Formulas in Pediatrics. Very grateful – humbled! – for this invitation.
At the end of the event, Dr. Paulo de Queiroz Marqués, brother of the founder, told me that I am “a Pasteur-type scientist” and said goodbye to me with a “heart to heart” hug.
I had the honor of participating as a speaker in a great tribute offered to Paulo de Queiroz in Brasilia at the Anfarmag international pharmaceutical congress. I gave the inaugural lecture. Unforgettable and human pharmacist. I hugged him back “heart to heart.”
