The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7423 p470
21 October 2006

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

  Acrobat Reader

News summary

NPA meets Pfizer to discuss distribution

Representatives of the National Pharmacy Association met executives of Pfizer last week to discuss the manufacturer's proposed distribution arrangements.

The NPA raised the following concerns:

· Potential damage to wholesaler networks

· Potential upheaval and uncertainty, in general, within community pharmacy

· Effect on pharmacists’ ability to supply prescription medicines with reasonable promptness

· Financial implications for pharmacists

Olivier Brandicourt, managing director, Pfizer, responded in a letter to NPA members, reaffirming the company’s stance that managing its own medicines will “improve the integrity of our supply chain, better guarantee the quality of medicines you receive and in doing so enhance the safety of your patients”.

Pfizer is also guaranteeing that pharmacists will continue to receive the same number of daily deliveries of Pfizer medicines that they currently do. “To do this effectively a significant financial investment will be made in warehousing, vans and drivers to be sure we can sustain current service patterns across the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland, from day one,” Dr Brandicourt says.

“Planning for this has been ongoing for some time and we are confident that over the next four months everything will be in place.”


News feature p477