The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7287 p215
21 February 2004

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· Which? report
· Medicines in children
· Community pharmacy
· Minor ailments service
· Branded generics
· Emergency contraception
· Workforce academy
· CPD
· The Register
· The Journal

Letters to the Editor

Branded generics

Back to the dark ages

From Mr P. M. Kirby, MRPharmS

The latest nail in pharmacy’s coffin is a return to branded generics. I refer to primary care trusts introducing the branded generic Simvador to replace simvastatin. It was only a few years ago doctors were actively encouraged to increase their generic prescribing, and I know of some locally who are perplexed as to why they now have to specify a brand. If this trend continues will we be expected to hold a generic, a brand and a branded generic product on our shelves? I cannot believe PCTs have been so short-sighted as not to see the long-term problems to pharmacy this may cause.

A manufacturer is being allowed to take any profit which would have benefited pharmacy and the future development of new services. This is our major source of income at present (after OTC sales) and this cherry-picking must not be allowed to happen. Too many of the free services pharmacies offer, plus the cost of holding thousands of pounds worth of stock on our shelves are being taken for granted.

This is not to mention the chaos that would be caused in the event of a production problem. (Imagine the time and effort required referring all those prescriptions back to GPs.)

I would urge all pharmacists to write to their PCTs to object to this previously tried and failed system. Why should pharmacy pay the price yet again?

Paul Kirby
Stockton-on-Tees

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