The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7217 p427
28 September 2002

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National Pharmaceutical Association (www.npa.co.uk)

NPA to advise on pet dispensing

Advice to community pharmacists on dispensing animal medicines is to be published by the National Pharmaceutical Association in November.

In the light of the Competition Commission's provisional conclusion that veterinary surgeons are complicit in a complex monopoly in the supply of prescription medicines to animal owners (PJ, 21 September, p383), the NPA believes that pharmacists will soon have greater opportunities to dispense veterinary prescriptions.

NPA chief executive John D'Arcy said: "We have battled long and hard for this, not only because it will provide a valuable service to pet owners but also because it will provide a great business opportunity for our members. ... Visiting a pharmacy, particularly for repeat prescriptions, will be so much more convenient for owners without any compromise of safety. The commission has already said that the current monopoly has kept prices artificially high and we are sure that community pharmacy will be able to change this."

A new guide 'Pet medicines in pharmacy' will explain marketing, legal, product knowledge and training aspects of dispensing animal medicines. The NPA believes that rural and urban pharmacies alike will be able to benefit from this market, which it estimates to be worth over £350m.