From Mr B. G. Spencer, MRPharmS
SIR,-The letter from Roger Cook (PJ, July 22, p130), although welcome, from a spokesman for the animal medicine manufacturers, does nothing to answer the question: how can a product be registered in one European Union country as a medicine available for sale through pharmacies, while in an adjacent country it is still only able to be obtained on prescription? His reply, which is not untypical of all politicians facing a googlie, is to divert the ball without attempting a stroke.
Strangely enough, my objectives are professional and commercial, just like those of our veterinarian colleagues. We know that the pharmacist is qualified professionally to advise on and, where appropriate, sell an animal medicine to its owner. We also know that, of the available sources of supply for such medicines, the pharmacy is the most convenient and the pharmacist in control is always available for consultation. The pharmacy is the only place in most high streets where such a service is to be found. Where, as in respect to zoonoses, there is an overlap of required knowledge between human and animal health, the pharmacist is also likely to be the most logical source of information for customers.
Many veterinarians now take the enlightened view that they would prefer to have such advice given, and, where appropriate, a product supplied to their clients. They do so in the knowledge that the pharmacist would always refer a client back to a veterinarian where necessary, and that pharmacists would not be tempted to diagnose animal ailments, which they know is unlawful.
Roger Dawson (same page), an equally adept politician, again does not answer the question, but uses the chance to reply to it by expanding his own organisation's agenda. Pharmacists, too, have views, which do not always concur with those of the Animal Health Distributors Association. While agreeing that we do not want to accept the continental two-tier system, we are not convinced that the present three-tier system in the United Kingdom is ideal by any means. The members of the AHDA want all the advantages of such a system but are loath to accept some of the necessary obligations which may well be much more of a stumbling block to their aspirations for a Europe-wide distribution system of their liking.
We believe there is a good case for products to be available for sale through pharmacies and veterinarians. These products would not be appropriately supplied or sold through pet stores, saddlers and agricultural merchants. Given the availability of such products with their potential commercial return, many of the merchant premises currently run by pharmacists might become registered pharmacy premises in their own right, to the benefit of all animal owners and their charges.
Brian Spencer
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands