The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7242 p423
29 March 2003

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Scottish remuneration up 3.9 per cent for 2003-04

Community pharmacy remuneration in Scotland is to rise by 3.9 per cent to £93.24m in 2003–04.

As well as the 3.9 per cent increase to the global sum, there will be £500,000 to improve premises and patient facilities. Part of the global sum, £1m, will be set aside to pay for pharmaceutical care model schemes, as it was in 2002–03.

The £500,000 will be used by health boards at their discretion to pay for consultation areas to improve privacy for patients, and better pharmacy security measures. It will also help support improved access for disabled patients to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Prescription volume in 2002–03 has risen by 5.3 per cent, leading to an overspend of the 2002–03 global sum, which is to written off. The write-off is recognition of the investment contractors are making in new infrastructure to prepare for implementation of a new community pharmacy contract and the extra work incurred as a result the volume growth. Fee scales for 2003–04 are to be held at current levels apart from the essential small pharmacy allowance, which will rise by 3.9 per cent.

The deal was agreed unanimously by the general council's standing committee

The unexpectedly early announcement of the deal is due to the Scottish parliamentary election in May. Both the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council thought that it was appropriate to attempt an early outcome of their negotiations. The Scottish Parliament will be dissolved at the end of March, which puts a bar on any further administrative changes.

Frank Owens, chairman of the SPGC said that the deal should not be seen in isolation, but as part of the move towards a new contract for community pharmacy services in the Scottish National Health Service. As a consequence, there will be inquiries to try to quantify the hidden financial support that pharmacies gain from discounts on the medicines they buy. This will aid the pricing of the new contract.