The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7223 p666
9 November 2002

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Pharmaceutical suppliers are against patient leaflet photocopying proposals

Eleven organisations representing pharmacies, wholesalers and manufacturers of pharmaceuticals have voiced concern about the Medicines Control Agency's proposals to allow pharmacists to photocopy patient information leaflets (PJ, 10 August, p181). They have called on the MCA to withdraw the proposals.

In its own formal response to the MCA consultation paper (MLX 285), the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry says that the move could compromise patient safety, by introducing the risk of patients receiving the wrong leaflet or an out-of-date one, and undermine product integrity and patients' trust and confidence in their medicines.

"The idea of photocopying leaflets is an ill-thought-out proposal, surrounded by risks to patients, pharmacists, the pharmaceutical industry and the Government itself," Dr Trevor Jones, director general of the ABPI, said. "As a result, we are seeking an early assurance that the MCA will not proceed with these regulations."

The ABPI response also points out that there would be many practical problems in introducing the proposals. Many pharmacies are too small to accommodate a photocopier and many leaflets are not suitable for photocopying, it says. As to downloading PILs from websites, the ABPI says that only half of pharmacies currently have an internet connection.

The ABPI wants to see patient pack dispensing, used by most other European countries, introduced instead.

The organisations which cover the four home countries and who have raised concerns in addition to the ABPI are:

• British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers

• British Generic Manufacturers Association

• Company Chemists Association

• National Pharmaceutical Association

• Proprietary Association of Great Britain

• Pharmaceutical Contractors Committee (Northern Ireland)

• Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee

• Scottish Pharmaceutical Federation

• Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council

• Ulster Chemists Association