GSK narrows its discount terms for community pharmacies
GlaxoSmithKline is revising its discount terms and will cease to offer discounts on products with no price competition from generics or parallel imports. The company will also reduce the list prices on 25 of its medicines.
GSK says these changes are designed to preserve profit on purchasing
for pharmacy and be cost-neutral for payers, but the announcement has
not been welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.
Sue Sharpe, chief executive of the PSNC, said: “This announcement
inevitably gives rise to concern and contractors will not welcome the
changes.”
“The new contract funding arrangements provide protection for pharmacies,
enabling them to be confident that the agreed level of purchase profits
that form part of the overall funding arrangements will be delivered.
The changes announced by GSK were not foreseen, and we are currently
discussing with the Department of Health what action is needed.”
The National Pharmaceutical Association is also concerned that GSK’s
change could affect the funding and reimbursement arrangements in the
new contract. John D’Arcy, chief executive of the NPA said: “We
will need to see what the impact of the changes will be.” |
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