From Mr N. Morley, MRPharmS
SIR,-As you know, the Government has produced proposals, announced on April 20, to set maximum prices for generic medicines. Additonally, it proposes to abolish the Category D concession for generics.
As a consultant pharmacist I have, together with my team, been monitoring for the past four years the difference between the real cost price of generics and the Drug Tariff price. We are perhaps uniquely placed to comment on the proposals. It is our belief that the combination of the two proposals will result in certain pharmaceuticals at best being unavailable or, at worst, ceasing to be supplied to this country. Patients will therefore have to go without their medicine, be switched back to a branded medicine or be prescribed alternative therapeutic componds. In some cases, eg, frusemide and the benzodiazepines, there are no easy alternatives.
It is my earnest opinion that all community pharmacists need to consider these proposals urgently and to protest in the strongest terms to Richard Mattison, Room 170, Department of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS (e-mail richard.mattison@doh.gsi.gov.uk).
Nigel Morley
Creaton, Northamptonshire