The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7259 p105
26 July 2003
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The Pharmaceutical Journal |
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New contract in danger without more clarity on control of entry, PSNC warns
Pharmacy contractors may not vote for the proposed new contract unless they receive clarification about the impact of the Government's proposals for control of entry in England, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee chairman Barry Andrews warned this week. Speaking at a joint PSNC and National Pharmaceutical Association briefing, held on 21 July to talk about the Government's response to the Office of Fair Trading report, he said: "Contractors will be uncertain until clarification is provided. They will be unwilling to support a new contract while such uncertainties exist." He added that the PSNC would be unlikely to put any proposed contract to a vote if a negative result was expected. Mr Andrews said that the Government's proposals on control of entry were "flawed, ill-considered and invite more questions than answers". This was an inevitable result of discussions and compromises between at least five different Government departments, including the Treasury and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. "There is a lack of clarity about all of this," Mr Andrews said. "We do need to understand where the Government is coming from." The PSNC raised a number of key questions at a scheduled meeting to discuss the new contract with the Department of Health and the NHS Confederation on 23 July. Talks on the new contract are expected to continue pending clarification. Mr Andrews said that the PSNC would be demanding a meeting with Health Minister Rosie Winterton in order to express its concerns and to hear an explanation of the Government's thinking. Particular areas of concern relate to exemptions from control of entry for large shopping developments, extended hours opening and one-stop primary care centres. John D'Arcy, chief executive of the NPA, said that he is concerned that the proposals could amount to "deregulation by the back door". He added that, as ever, the devil will be in the detail. "We know that the current system isn't perfect, but it has had around 15 years to settle out." The NPA and the PSNC would not be sitting back but would be doing all they could to influence discussions about the detail. "Our unanswered questions will form the basis of a continuing campaign." Leading article, p104 |
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