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Concordance
Tritace
Modernisation
The Charter
Specials
Automation
Remuneration
The Profession
Letters to the Editor
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Specials
Unacceptably excessive?
From Mr D. R. Thomas, MRPharmS
I was astonished by the letter from Maureen
Chapman (PJ, 11 October,
p491) regarding specials and taxpayers not getting value for money.
On receiving a quote of that magnitude for preparing 400g 25 per cent
salicylic acid in white soft paraffin (a relatively simple product),
it would have been sensible to inform the prescriber before ordering
because the price quoted appears ridiculously high. It is not fair to
expect a doctor to be aware of the cost of such items when he or she
writes the prescription, especially for a simple product.
I would add, without I hope seeming rude or patronising to a fellow pharmacist,
that the onus for protecting taxpayers’ money in this case rests
with the pharmacist.
The price stated by the company involved, even taking into account conservative
ingredient costs, labour charges and overheads, is unacceptably excessive
in my opinion.
I am sure that my contemporaries would agree that this preparation and
similar have been competently prepared over many years by the application
of secundem artem.
David R. Thomas
Feltham, Middlesex
Time we charged for our expertise
From Mr Z. Silver, MRPharmS
I see that Maureen Chapman believes that a charge of over £150 is
excessive for the supply of 400g of a specially formulated ointment quickly
delivered to her pharmacy (PJ, 11 October, p491).
It is surely time we were charging for our knowledge and expertise. We
all know how much an emergency plumber or car mechanic charges. We pay
this willingly because we are not prepared to fix our own blocked sink
or grinding gears.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society demands that we all invest time and money
in new learning and in expanding our knowledge and expertise. Time is money!
What are we to get for this investment? If we already have expert knowledge,
are we not entitled to charge for it? And if we invest more to improve
our knowledge should we not expect a return?
Let us all stand up proud, secure in our expertise, and be prepared to
charge for it.
Zvi Silver
Edgware, Middlesex |
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