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The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7243 p462
5 April 2003

Related websites
OFT report, news & related links (more)
Early Day Motion (more)
National Pharmaceutical Association (www.npa.co.uk)

Conflicting views expressed over Parliamentary responses to OFT report

John D’Arcy: deregulation cannot be the answer

The National Pharmaceutical Association is disappointed with the Government's response to the Office of Fair Trading's recommendation on the regulation of community pharmacy.

Last week, the Government said that it will publish a full response before the summer recess. A "balanced package" of proposals will be drawn up that will take into account wider policy objectives (PJ, 29 March, p423). However, this does not go far enough for the NPA. The association has expressed disappointment that the Government has not rejected the OFT report outright.

John D'Arcy, chief executive of the NPA, commented: "The NPA fully supports the Government's objectives towards improving quality of, and access to, pharmacy services for the benefit of patients and local communities."

He said that the current regulatory controls work well but that there are areas that need improving. "The Association looks forward to playing its part in assisting the Government in developing its balanced package of proposals. We want to move forward and work constructively with the Government to identify any gaps in pharmacy service provision and to work collaboratively on solutions." However, Mr D'Arcy warned: "Deregulation cannot be the answer: it is disproportionate to any shortcomings with the current arrangements."

On behalf of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Beverley Parkin, director of public affairs, said: "Of course, there can be no guarantee of the outcome we want but I cannot think of an issue in pharmacy where all the protagonists, from their different perspectives, have succeeded in mobilising public and political opinion so thoroughly and effectively." She added: "The recent comments by the Trade and Industry Secretary and the rejection of the OFT's proposals by the Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly Government show that the case for pharmacy has been well made in all three countries by members of the public, individual pharmacists and pharmacy organisations."

Tesco continues to support the OFT recommendation. "The Government has made it clear that it has still to reach conclusions," a spokesman told The Journal. "We believe that the OFT reform is vital. People's needs and habits have changed since the regulations froze pharmacies in their 1987 locations." He added that Tesco is disappointed by the announcements made by the devolved administrations to reject the OFT report.

OFT in Scotland Meanwhile, pharmacists in Scotland have welcomed the Scottish Executive's decision.

Ian Johnstone, chairman of the Scottish Pharmaceutical Federation, said: "We are delighted the Scottish Executive has listened not just to the concerns of community pharmacy but to tens of thousands of people who use their community pharmacies. Unlike the OFT, these people appreciate the vital role they play." He added: "Our patients and customers have supported what must be the most effective lobby of the Scottish Parliament and the Executive in the first four years of their existence."

Frank Owens, chairman of the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council, urged Scottish pharmacists to think of their colleagues in England and send copies of any petitions against the OFT recommendation to the NPA.

New Early Day Motion A new Early Day Motion about the OFT report was lodged last Thursday, after the Government's initial response.

The motion states: "That this house is concerned that there is a conflict of policy between the OFT, which is proposing to deregulate pharmaceutical prescriptions, allow such sales in supermarkets and thus destabilise local pharmacies with an estimated closure of small businesses of up to 50 per cent, and the Department of Health which is proposing a greater role for local pharmacies in local health care support." The motion has been signed by 42 members of Parliament to date.