Why did I get involved in this site? I was perfectly happy coming and going as I pleased on another community site with somebody else in charge of keeping order and maintaining continuity. If I got busy elsewhere for a while - no big deal. What did I hope to achieve that the other site would not?

Read this little snippet for a clue:
A forthcoming review of pharmacy dispensing fees announced by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang on Thursday was well received by pharmacists.

When the health minister launched the controversial new structure for the fees pharmacies could charge when dispensing medicine last year, pharmacists were outraged as they felt the move would result in their operating at a loss.

Community pharmacists welcomed the announcement, said the United South African Pharmacies (Usap), which represents about 1 200 community pharmacies.

Chairperson Julian Solomon said Usap was particularly happy about her offer to include interested parties in the process.

"We are more than happy to cooperate with the Health Department in revising the fee structure, and are hopeful that a workable compromise can be reached that would be acceptable to both pharmacies and consumers."

Solomon had reportedly described last year's dispensing fee structure as a "lunatic ruling" that favoured large chain stores and would obliterate independently owned pharmacies.
from a story on M&G on medical dispensing fees here
Didn't the Department consult before putting the fee structure in place last year? Yes they did. But who was at that table? Was anyone looking after the independant community pharmicist?

This is not an isolated occurence. Small business simply must make a concerted effort to get representation to the negotiating tables that understands and genuinely represents their interests.