The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7275 p669
15 November 2003

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National Pharmaceutical Association (www.npa.co.uk)

NPA Matrix — a discussion forum to support pharmaceutical manufacturers

The National Pharmaceutical Association is to launch a discussion forum and support service for pharmaceutical manufacturers, called NPA Matrix.

John D’Arcy: Sometimes manufacturers misunderstand what is required

John D’Arcy, chief executive of the NPA, said at a press conference on 7 November that the service is intended to provide a formal way in which the NPA can discuss with manufacturers of prescription and non-prescription products how changes to community pharmacy and the National Health Service could affect the way in which they deal with pharmacy and sell their products. “We already receive a lot of ad hoc inquiries from manufacturers at the moment,” Mr D’Arcy said. “Sometimes there is confusion or misplaced understanding of what is required.”

Some of the issues that could be discussed with Matrix members include reclassification of medicines, medicines management, repeat dispensing, and supplementary and independent prescribing by pharmacists. Companies joining the scheme will be invited to briefing meetings with guest speakers and will receive newsletters and intelligence reports by e-mail. They will have priority access to NPA services and receive support with, for example, compiling training materials or information for patients.

Trefor Williams, head of business support at the NPA, will have responsibility for Matrix. He said that the benefits for community pharmacy owners, the association’s existing members, would be two-fold. First, fees paid by Matrix members will go towards increasing the number of business support staff at the NPA. Second, there should be a better understanding among pharmacy’s suppliers of what community pharmacists do and what they could be doing.

However, NPA Matrix is not an associate membership category of the NPA.

The Matrix service will be formally presented to a group of potential members on 26 November with the aim of starting in January 2004.