Developments linked with ETP could undermine patient choice
Developments associated with the electronic transfer of prescriptions could undermine patient choice, according to National Pharmaceutical Association representatives who raised their concerns with health minister Rosie Winterton at a meeting this week.
John D’Arcy, chief executive of the NPA, and Ash Soni, NPA chairman,
warned that if GPs are allowed to nominate pharmacies to transfer prescriptions
to, as they believe the Department of Health has suggested, the risk
of prescription direction would be increased.
Directing prescriptions may happen where GPs have an interest in a particular
pharmacy or where they have been encouraged to do so by pharmacists.
As well as undermining patient choice, this undermines the professional
relationship between pharmacists and GPs, says the NPA.
John D’Arcy told The Journal that it is difficult to identify situations
where prescription direction is happening and that safeguards are needed
to prevent it from becoming more common with the introduction of ETP. “As
things stand primary care trusts are unlikely to want to get involved
since this is an intra-professional issue between pharmacists and GPs,” he
explained. “Proper regulation is needed, such as an outlaw in the
general practitioners terms of service,” he said. |
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