The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7197 p646-648
11 May 2002

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Letters to the Editor

GSK

Still waiting for wrongs to be righted

From Mr H. A. Crook, MRPharmS

The formation of GlaxoSmithKline UK Ltd was carefully observed by contractors everywhere as we awaited the inclusion of former SKB products in the infamous GlaxoWellcome discount scheme.

What emerged shortly after the merger, however, was a new scheme known as "Plus". This was rolled out with the usual mail-shots and press releases and promised to be everything the pharmacy contractor of today, or indeed of tomorrow, ever wanted.

The result, now that the dust has settled, is a scheme not unlike the former. I still lose out financially every time I dispense a GSK product. It is not difficult to work this out, despite the smoke and mirrors.

For added humour, the scheme includes a means to swap out-of-date products for Amoxil capsules. Admittedly no other manufacturer offers a written guarantee to replace out-of-date products but I submit that on the assumption that these Amoxil capsules will have to be dispensed for a generically written prescription for the vast majority of us (I cannot remember the last time I received a prescription written for Amoxil), this offer is basically worthless given the current prices of generic amoxicillin. Before anyone reminds me that I can swap my out-of-date product for an in-date equivalent, may I suggest that the reason it is out of date is that I no longer dispense it and that its replacement is likely to follow it to the incinerator.

Like many contractors I have been involved in GlaxoWellcome equalisation deals for several years. Before the new company was set up I had awful problems with my discounts in these deals because my local representative moved to pastures new leaving his post vacant and his customers apparently unwanted and certainly abandoned. Despite my misgivings, I was persuaded to hang in there as the new regime would right all wrongs. I am still waiting. What has happened to me now is that I am no longer receiving any discount within these deals. I have dispensed and continue to dispense some GSK products for open prescriptions in the vain hope that this can be resolved but my telephone calls result in promises of calls and visits which never materialise. Meanwhile I am losing money and patience.

Harry Crook
Deeside, Flintshire

Glaxo should offer more financial support

From Mr R. D. Morris, MRPharmS, and Mrs K. M. Morris, MRPharmS

We write to add our voices to those of Surinder Singh Kalsi and Roy Lamb (PJ, 23 March, p400) about the derisory discount levels GlaxoSmithKline offers to small independent pharmacies. We, too, were mislead about the level of discount on offer and despite anticipating a "reasonable" 7 per cent, find that we struggle to obtain a 3 per cent discount level. This really is shoddy treatment by GSK of the majority of practising pharmacists, who find it hard enough to survive against the corporate entities and larger independent chains, not to mention ever decreasing returns from the Prescription Pricing Authority.

It is not acceptable for Chris Tovey to say that stock "swaps" and telephone bartering are the way forward. Swaps are often for products that are not needed or wanted and, frankly, pharmacists do not have time to ring around to try to ensure they get the best deal each and every month.

While congratulating GSK on its financial results (PJ, 6 April, p455), we would respectfully ask it to offer more in the way of financial support to the thousands of pharmacies that serve the smaller and rural communities. Independents will survive despite GSK policy, but we would rather it listened and gave us some help and encouragement in difficult times.

What we would like to see from GSK, therefore, is a fair and open discount policy that does not penalise the small independent pharmacy. We hope our professional colleagues will voice their concerns to ensure GSK gets the message. Who knows, GSK may need our support one day.

R. D. and K. M. Morris
Northampton

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