The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7337 p198
19 February 2005

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Concern over chlamydia pilot

The National Pharmaceutical Association has expressed concern at to whether independent community pharmacists will be able to participate in the Department of Health-sponsored chlamydia screening pilots announced last week (PJ, 12 February, p165). The NPA also questions the impact of the new schemes on existing projects run by primary care trusts and community pharmacies.

Health Minister Rosie Winterton has asked the NPA to submit a detailed brief about their concerns.

Doubts about pharmacy-based chlamydia screening services are raised in an editorial in The Lancet. It questions whether adequate staffing and training will be available to explain the testing process and meaning of results to customers. It also asks how testing for other sexually transmitted infections will be addressed and who will provide facilities to trace sexual contacts (Lancet 2005;365:630).