Oxford Economic Research Associates Ltd (OXERA), a consultancy which is undertaking a fundamental review of the supply arrangements for generic drugs within the National Health Service, wants to talk to individual community pharmacists to ascertain their views.
Speaking to The Journal on December 8, Dr Helen Jenkins (managing consultant, OXERA) said that she was meeting representative bodies, including the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, but it was important that the views of individual pharmacists were also heard. Pharmacists were involved in the system as, in effect, contracted purchasers for the NHS.
She said that OXERA had been contracted by the Department of Health to undertake a fundamental review of the supply of generics, thinking as broadly as possible about both remedial actions which could be applied to the current arrangements and "radical solutions". A report would be made to the Department in July, 2000.
"What has happened over the past year has made the Department look to see if the market has changed over the past 10 years and if the current arrangements are no longer appropriate," she said.
OXERA can be contacted on 01865 253034.