From Mr P. Walton, MRPharmS
SIR,-It is interesting that the Government is scrapping Category D of the Drug Tariff, and will be basing generic drug prices payable on the average price before calender packs came in. I assume from this, that when manufacturers refuse to play ball, and sell generics at a loss, patients will be allowed to suffer without their medicines, or the general practitioner will have to write a branded product. This will reverse the trend towards generic supply, and inertia arising from having to keep changing the prescription computers will maintain it like that.
When we last saw an attempt at price manipulation (the 4.5 per cent reduction in "ethical" prices), some pharmacists destocked, and refused supply of drugs that were available. My prescription volume went up from 7,000 items per month (for two previous years) to 9,300 items per month, and my overdraft requirement from zero to a peak of £54,000, because this coincided with delays in payments of money owed, to a guessed figure, not taking into account increased average prices. I had sleepless nights, and will not go through the same again. I, too, will be saying "sorry we cannot get hold of your medicine" instead of buffering the shortfall at economic loss.
The Government has to be told by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee that tampering with the market without reference to incurred costs will cause shortages and patient suffering. The price of generics has to be agreed with the suppliers, not inflicted upon them. Next time, I will have a leaflet prepared explaining to my patients why they cannot get their medicine to avoid the mental bruising endured last time.
Philip Walton
Manchester