The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7245 p534
19 April 2003

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

News summary

Related websites
OFT report, news & related links (more)

City council support for plans to open up pharmacy market

Manchester City Council has passed a motion giving qualified support to plans to change the regulations governing pharmacy contracts.

A Liberal Democrat motion opposing the recommendation to deregulate pharmacy contracts was amended by Labour councillors to support the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Patricia Hewitt) and her plans for "proposals which will both open up the pharmacy market and at the same time protect local services".

Councillor Gerry Diamond, Labour member for Hulme and Moss Side and a community pharmacist in Manchester, told The Journal that the motion had become caught up in party politics and the decision to support the motion had been made in ignorance.

In February, London Borough of Harrow Council opposed moves resulting from the OFT report that might endanger the quality or quantity of pharmacy services.