| · Mental health (2)
· Malawi
· Technician registration
· CPD (2)
· Price reductions
· The Society (4)
Letters to the Editor
|
Price reductions
PPRS price reductions — let all pharmacists know
From Mr N. J. Staunton, MRPharmS
I am one of a growing breed of independent pharmaceutical advisers and,
as such, do not receive the regular communications sent to primary care
trusts, hospital trusts, community pharmacies and GPs.
This week I became aware, by chance, of a significant price reduction
in one of my preferred shortlist drugs, Calcichew D3 Forte, from £9.50
to £7.50 per 100. I pride myself on keeping up to date and read
the excellent druginfozone website daily, the PJ and Health
Service Journal weekly, as well as the MeReC Bulletin, Drug
and Therapeutics Bulletin,
National Prescribing Centre/UK Medicines Information drug reviews, etc,
periodically. I was therefore embarrassed to be told of this price reduction
by a doctor whom I was meant to be advising.
There are many different types of pharmacist now involved in providing
a wide range of professional services. Some of these will receive information
mailed to their employer (such as community pharmacists, primary care
organisation and hospital trust pharmacists), others via educational
agencies (NPC, Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education, UKMI, etc).
However, the only complete database that catches all of these pharmacists
is that held by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. I wonder if, in this
rapidly changing pharmaceutical world, the Society could liaise with
the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and the Department
of Heath to ensure that all pharmacists receive key information such
as Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme price changes and major DoH
prescribing initiatives or consultations. Although I do not want to be
bombarded with half a tropical rain forest every day, I would like to
know of major price changes when they happen rather than three months
after the event.
Noel J. Staunton
Pharmaceutical Consultant
Binstead,
Isle of Wight
|
The
Pharmaceutical Journal