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	The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 268 No 7190 p397-401 23 March 2002	This page Reprint Photocopy
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Letters to the Editor

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GSK

Low discount

The pharmacist's friend?

Low discount

From Mr R. Lamb, MRPharmS

I would urge all independent pharmacy contractors immediately to inspect their GlaxoSmithKline statements for January which were recently posted to their home addresses. The discount received is so low that GSK products should carry a warning on all their packs that "dispensing this product will seriously damage your wealth". The discount bands used to calculate the final figure highlight the problem of zero discount given on the first £500 of products purchased per month, which makes a nonsense of the higher rates offered. For purchases of UK-sourced GSK products worth £3,800 I received a miserly 7.5 per cent discount — this is ironic when my National Health Service deducted discount is 11 per cent. I suggest we use our "local influence" with general practitioners and practice nurses to discuss asthma and migraine prescribing policies. I find those cost analysis bar graphs that have GSK products going off the scale highly influential at such meetings, especially when I am able to suggest alternative cost-effective drug treatments. A quick sharp lesson in zero prescribing should bring GSK to its senses.

Roy Lamb
Wigan, Lancashire

The pharmacist's friend?

From Mr S. S. Kalsi, MRPharmS

Has anyone checked their rebate from GlaxoSmithKline? The 7 per cent is a myth. After the first £500 with no discount and after the zero discount items I have netted a 3.7 per cent rebate. Meanwhile the Government deducts a 10 per cent discount on average.

As for receiving the money well before the settlement date, the cheque arrived on the 27 February. By the time we cleared it, assuming immediate deposit, the bill would already have been settled for two to three days. The pharmacist's friend? I hardly think so. As always, nothing changes.

Surinder Singh Kalsi
Barking, Essex

CHRIS TOVEY, director of commercial operations, GlaxoSmithKline, replies:

GSK is committed to working with pharmacies of all sizes to ensure they are benefiting from the new +Plus programme. +Plus includes an overall increase in discount from GSK, and there is great potential for pharmacies to benefit from our discount deals and other new services.

It is important to note that pharmacies will benefit most from the new +Plus programme when they take advantage of both the universal discount scheme and our product specific deals. We encourage any pharmacy interested in increasing its discount levels to contact our Customer Call Centre on 0800 221441 between 8am and 6pm. Our dedicated team of telephone account managers can advise on discount schemes to suit all types of pharmacies.

In addition to new discount deals through +Plus, GSK offers pharmacies a number of additional tangible benefits. Pharmacy customers can take advantage of our new "stock swap" programme, which enables them to keep a full range of products in stock without risk of losing money if products go out of date. Our new medicines support services are also available to pharmacists who become more involved in offering new services to patients.

GSK will continue to consult with and listen to pharmacies and adapt the +Plus programme to make sure it meets their needs in a rapidly changing environment. +Plus represents a long-term commitment from GSK to support community pharmacies.

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