Alison Strath, of the pharmacy strategy implementation team at the Scottish Executive Health Department, replies:

The arrangements under which the pilot scheme operates mirror current practice when a pharmacist counter prescribes for minor ailments resulting in an over-the-counter sale. The only difference is that the NHS meets the cost of the product. There is no more likelihood for conflict of interest in this arrangement than in an OTC sale. In addition, both areas have local formularies in place to encourage cost-effective, evidence-based prescribing. Monitoring of the pharmacist’s prescribing has shown high levels of generic prescribing and an average prescription cost of only £2.10. We are currently discussing the merits of a national formulary to underpin payment processing and e-pharmacy developments.