The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7430 p687
9 December 2006

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· TDM
· Work breaks
· Pfizer products
· Enhanced services
· Concordance (2)
· Small pharmacies
· Huntington's disease
· Section 60 Order
· The Society
· Technicians

Letters to the Editor

Pfizer products

Small independents will lose out

From Mr P. R. Rodwell, MRPharmS

Until now I have not been concerned about the new distribution arrangement. However, I am now. How many independent pharmacies are going to lose out by Pfizer’s discount structure? I believe that all small independent owners will.

In my case, I have two pharmacies — one large and one of average size — and my annual turnover for both is less than £250,000. If I take this turnover as being at the top end of my company purchases, which earn a 10.5 per cent discount from the wholesaler, then I am losing. For one of the shops, this amount is over £2,000.

Since I use UniChem, where its own shops will be well into the top discount level, can I expect some help from them? Or will Pfizer offer me individually a better level of discount? I doubt either.

Looks like I may have to try out the other wholesalers.

Paul Rodwell
Wallingford, Oxfordshire

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