Government needs to ensure commissioning is fair
Central government needs to send out clear signals that a level playing field must be established for commissioning primary care services, the National Pharmacy Association has urged.
In its written response to the All-Party
Pharmacy Group’s inquiry into the future of pharmacy (PJ, 24 June, p739), the NPA warns: “The
potential for pharmacy-based services (and the benefit the public will
gain from them) will not be realised unless pharmacists are treated equitably
by commissioners in relation to other would-be service providers.”
Yet current evidence suggests this is frequently not the case, it says. “Transparent
governance arrangements must be put in place to ensure a level playing
field among providers and a clear message should come from central government
that PCTs will be judged on this matter.”
The NPA also emphasises that there is a window of time during which NHS
services will be redesigned to achieve the “Our health, our care,
our say” White Paper aim of shifting more care into community settings. “Pharmacy
must establish a sustainable place in the new care pathways before this
window closes, so there is an urgent need to expand,” it says.
However, the need to make the best use of this time should not fluster
community pharmacists, the response says. “It is important that
pharmacists do not feel panicked into picking up roles that are not sustainable
and that do not build on the strengths that differentiate pharmacy from
other providers.”
Nonetheless, the NPA argues, dispensing medicines should remain the central
service in community pharmacy. “The accurate and timely supply
of prescribed medicines is the backbone of the community pharmacy service.
The dispensing process provides the opportunity to build close relationships
with service users — to the great benefit of all concerned — and
also the platform on which to set other services.” |
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Pharmaceutical Journal
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