From Mr D. P. D. Nickels, MRPharmS
SIR,-I, like many pharmacy contractors, am appalled by the treatment we receive as a profession from the Department of Health. The new proposals to set maximum prices for generic medicines and to abolish category D is another nail in the coffin for community pharmacy (PJ, April 29, p642).
This poorly thought out and rushed strategy will cause patients more frustration and anguish. I see from The Journal (May 2, p744) that the Government expects generics stocks to be run down. I can see myself, in a month's time, trying to explain to anxious patients that the fault for these shortages is out of my control and that they cannot have another brand because it is too expensive. I am sure that I am going to have plenty of happy replies.
We as contractors are forced to pay the going price for generic drugs and it is wrong to penalise us for factors which are out of our control. As I understand the situation, generic drug companies have had to invest huge sums of money in new machinery for the packaging and labelling of patient packs. Whereas an old pack of 1,000 thyroxine tablets required one jar and one label, the same 1,000 tablets requires 36 boxes, 36 patient information leaflets and 72 blister strips, which, of course, also need sealing. I also, understand that this investment had an adverse affect on the companies' profit margins, and they, like us, employ many staff and, I expect, have large overheads. The Government cannot force any company to produce a product at a loss.
So, the question is: are some generic drugs going to become unviable to produce for these companies? I, for one, cannot answer this question, but I can envisage the stress and unpleasantness that we as pharmacists and our staff will receive at the front line.
I hope that the profession will support Mr Dove and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee in trying to overturn or delay this preposterous idea until a more satisfactory outcome is achieved. Another point that I feel should be reviewed is that, if we, as a profession, are forced to buy generic drugs at a fixed price, is the Department of Health going to abolish discount?
I am not naive enough to think for one minute that this will happen, but one wonders when and how much more of this heavy handed approach from the Department of Health our profession can absorb.
David P. Nickels
Newquay, Cornwall